Addicted to Energy Deficit: Your Neuroscience Based Guide to Restrictive Eating Disorders

by Helly Barnes

When a restrictive eating disorder has had a destructive effect on your life and you haven't been able to understand why it's so hard to overcome, Addicted to Energy Deficit is the book you need.

Bringing in neuroscience and research evidence, as well as personal and professional experience, Helly Barnes provides an explanation for restrictive eating disorders that will resolve your unanswered questions and fit your experience.
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This informative and compassionate guide will give you a deeper understanding of yourself and the eating disorder. You will believe that you can overcome it and feel empowered to take the necessary steps to do so.

420 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 28, 2023

Reviews

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has the best explanations of the physiological and neurological happenings with a restrictive eating disorders that I've read.

I listen to Barnes' podcast which is how I found out about her book. I'm glad I did because I have long been wanting to understand what has and is happening in my brain and body with my eating disorder. The information is simplified (thankfully for my dummy brain) and digestible. The book can be read straight through or by jumping around, and I appreciate the reviews and recaps scattered throughout. There's a lot of other great information within the pages. Although I don't agree with everything Barnes believes and writes, she does offer new ways of looking at things and new things to consider.

I think this is a great book for those with an eating disorder and for those without who really want to grasp these complicated diseases.

[Tara Rill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super resource for restrictive eating disorders

I found this book to contain novel information relating to restrictive eating disorders, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is suffering with one or has a loved one suffering with one. It was well written and organized and full of useful and supportive information. It surely provides valuable, thoughtful and encouraging information to anyone suffering with typical and atypical restrictive eating.

[Jane Butane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been game-changing for me in terms of understanding my eating patterns in a really helpful way, without being focused on just one type of eating disorder.
Helly explains the neuroscience behind restrictive eating, its long-term effects, and how to address it in a really accessible way.

[Lientje · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opening yourself back up to social connection is something that takes courage. It means making yourself vulnerable. But it’s perhaps one of the most important things you can do to enhance and protect your journey to overcome the eating disorder.

Reading this book, it really felt like the author was putting herself out there in a vulnerable way. I really appreciated her honesty throughout the book. She's really upfront with the reader about how hard it is to overcome an eating disorder and at the same time her message is one of hope.

I really liked the set up of the book. The author gives a lot of scientific background and combines recent insights that help you understand how eating disorders work. Throughout the chapters you'll find several tips and tricks to help you on your own journey. I understand that Helly Barnes' second book Aiming for Overshoot contains even more practical advice if that's what you're interested in.

At times it felt like some of the messages were repeated quite a few times, but it's really easy to skip these passages and not be bothered by them. I guess they might come in handy if you'd like to read the chapters in a different order and don't want to miss out on the most important insights.

All in all: a solid 4 stars! Would recommend to anyone trying to understand more about the ins and outs of eating disorders: both for people suffering from one and for the people around them.