Anatomy of a Food Addiction: The Brain Chemistry of Overeating: An Effective Program to Overcome Compulsive Eating

by Anne Katherine

If you have struggled with compulsive eating, dieting, and the guilt and conflict they bring, your life will be changed by this important, life-affirming, and astonishingly wise book. Anne Katherine, a Certified Eating Disorders Therapist and former compulsive eater, explains the chemical reactions in the brain that work in conjunction with lifelong emotional conflicts to make food—particularly sugar and refined carbohydrates—such a comfort that it's almost like a drug. Once you realize that your binge eating is a physical disease that can be treated, you can use the book's self-tests, exercises, examination of family issues, and complete recovery program for newfound understanding and confidence.

Genres: Self Help, Health, Mental Health

258 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Kristi Piper · Rating 2 out of 5]

Solid information presented in a reader-friendly context. She's gives you the science behind food addiction without losing the typical reader. BUT (and this was a pretty big but for me) this book is a little overloaded with "give yourself a big hug and tell yourself it's not your fault" therapy speak.

[Jenn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Totally and completely unrealistic. But even worse than that, she does such a great job of convincing you that this and only this is the answer to your problems, that in the end when you realize there's no way in hell this is feasible, you feel even worse. Do not recommend. More thoughts and more of a personal nature here: http://wildflowerz.wordpress.com/2010...

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad but more about forgiving yourself for things that ‘happened’ to you causing your disordered eating and very little on how to fix it. I’d say if you are new to the journey then this is a great starting place but if you are looking for solutions and ways to stick with healthy eating this books falls a bit short.

[Crystal Chadwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating for 5 chapters or so

Loved the science-based portions of the book and the harsh look at food addiction on particular with a junkie or alcoholic. Great perspectives, but the rest of the book seemed more specialized for extreme obesity and/or past abuse.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Searingly introspective. Profoundly painful. Amazingly honest.

[Ashley Sweatman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dated information

[K So · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book at a library clearance … It d read the back cover, in particular the Author Information, which says Anne Katherine has Master of Arts in Psychology… from Peabody College, A Certificate in Addiction Studies, is a Certified Eating Disorders Therapist from the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals and is a Certified Mental Health Counselor. 23 years of experience as a psychotherapist and 14 years personal recovery from binge eating and has studied brain functioning and written recovery programs. I was intrigued and decided I’d read the book, noting it was published the third time in 1996. I have recently been exploring the topic of nutrition for brain health and looking at the experience of people who have been eating mainly meat and drinking mainly water and reading about bi-polar and schizophrenia improvements reported recently. I thought this book might give me some insights into how mental health and food addiction was understood around 1991… up to 1996. I graduated high school in 1991, so I’m hoping lots has changed since then. I started reading this book after reading a story of how a woman with anorexia and autism uses Ayurveda to manage her mental health. Something that is not at all addressed in this book (shows it’s age) is digestion, microbiome and nutritional deficiencies. I would be interested to see if there was an update to this book with some added information about ketogenic nutritional therapy and psychedelic assisted therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

I will keep reading this book as I am only half way through however I don’t think I will keep it as a reference item on my bookshelf.

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful to get a perspective on food and brain chemistry.

[Karyn Wynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing. I learned I have a disease. This is not about self control or lack thereof. AND I stopped eating sugar May 14, 2009!!

[Angela Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good support to help you feel like you aren't alone, but a lot of technical stuff that makes for very dry reading. Also, her "change of life" plan is a bit outdated, I think.

[Christine Murdock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book, very informative. It is important to find a external support system before tackling a big change.