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Anorexia Nervosa: My Story and the Science Behind It
It only takes a small flame to start a fire.
One comment from a coach–five pounds down. One picture on Instagram–thin, pretty, perfect. One Strawberry Chicken Pecan Salad–200 calories.
Busy with her sport, friends, and school work, fourteen-year old Olive never had much time to think about her body and weight–things that she managed to shove to the back of her mind. But everything changed when the whole world locked down; Olive found herself confined inside the walls of her own house, with all the time in the world to address the two things she had tried so hard to avoid.
The isolation she feels increases with each passing day, while her energy declines.
Cold. Weak. Hungry.
In Anorexia My Story and the Science Behind It , Olive not only shares her personal battle with anorexia but also delves into her own analysis of research findings that shed light on the illness and its root causes.
Each step of her experience is interwoven with scientific explanations, revealing the enigma behind one of the most perplexing why? Why do certain individuals succumb to societal pressures, like the relentless grasp of diet culture, while others remain unscathed? Why do individuals with anorexia perceive that they are fat when really they are deathly thin? And why can’t these people just eat?
One comment from a coach–five pounds down. One picture on Instagram–thin, pretty, perfect. One Strawberry Chicken Pecan Salad–200 calories.
Busy with her sport, friends, and school work, fourteen-year old Olive never had much time to think about her body and weight–things that she managed to shove to the back of her mind. But everything changed when the whole world locked down; Olive found herself confined inside the walls of her own house, with all the time in the world to address the two things she had tried so hard to avoid.
The isolation she feels increases with each passing day, while her energy declines.
Cold. Weak. Hungry.
In Anorexia My Story and the Science Behind It , Olive not only shares her personal battle with anorexia but also delves into her own analysis of research findings that shed light on the illness and its root causes.
Each step of her experience is interwoven with scientific explanations, revealing the enigma behind one of the most perplexing why? Why do certain individuals succumb to societal pressures, like the relentless grasp of diet culture, while others remain unscathed? Why do individuals with anorexia perceive that they are fat when really they are deathly thin? And why can’t these people just eat?
247 pages, Paperback
Published July 13, 2023
3 people want to read
About the author
Eve Yang
3 books3 followersHi!
My name is Eve Yang, and I'm a newly published author. My first book, "Anorexia Nervosa: My Story and the Science Behind It" is live on Amazon.
I have always wanted to complete a book about a topic that I feel passionate about but have never had the time to go through with it, but I am happy to say that I succeeded!
Aside from writing, I love, of course, to read! I'm a reader, ice hockey player, and student at the moment who has a profound interest in all things mental health and wellness, more particularly, child psychiatry!
I also love talking to people and would be happy to provide a review for any authors that might be looking for one!
My name is Eve Yang, and I'm a newly published author. My first book, "Anorexia Nervosa: My Story and the Science Behind It" is live on Amazon.
I have always wanted to complete a book about a topic that I feel passionate about but have never had the time to go through with it, but I am happy to say that I succeeded!
Aside from writing, I love, of course, to read! I'm a reader, ice hockey player, and student at the moment who has a profound interest in all things mental health and wellness, more particularly, child psychiatry!
I also love talking to people and would be happy to provide a review for any authors that might be looking for one!
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 4, 2023
Talking about an eating disorder is not easy. Admitting to having one is even more difficult. The stigma associated with it is even worst. And yet, we can’t underestimate the devastation that this dis-ease can create on the psyche and physical body of those it affects.
What becomes of our own self-esteem, the self-judgment of what we are supposed to look like – how thin we are supposed to be in comparison to someone else when we look in the mirror each day?
How many of us have been self-critical and taken extremes to have what we believed would be the “perfect” body to meet the “perfect” image for acceptance by others – or most importantly, acceptance by ourselves?
And what kind of relationship would we have with our own weight scale to get there?
Eve Yang starts off her book with the heading – 5 pounds. We know immediately what she is talking about. Her "protagonist" Olive is assessing herself. She is realizing what it is going to take to look like the perfect person, if only she weighed 5 pounds less. The mirror was judging her again.
And then we see almost immediately the cause and effect of what caused her need to be so concerned. Her coach. “You look in shape,” he said nonchalantly.
How many adults have given us these messages “nonchalantly” without realizing how hurtful and painful and messy those expectations of us to look and be a certain weight affect us to do these extreme things to ourselves?
Turning the page, we learn that this same coach insisted that other girls on her swim team, lose 5 pounds, too. Why? Will it help them to swim faster?
Olive describes these girls with an already lean physique.
This reviewer wants to know…what is wrong with these adults?
The author then begins to describe the science behind anorexia nervosa – but not dismissing the environmental or social influences that contribute to its cause.
While talking about the science, she also weaves Olive’s personal story in-between the pages.
Her story is now. She is relaying her experience even as Covid hits. Her parents are there with her. Concerned. Wanting to watch over her as she eats. Do they need to weigh her regularly to make sure she doesn’t slip away?
The good news is that she has the support of her family. But even with their support, she is out of control and needs a doctor’s care and the ER. How had she become a high-risk patient? How could a person do this to themselves? Would she risk eating for a feeding tube?
What happens to rational and logical decision making? The author goes into scientific explanations.
What will it take for weight restoration? Mind restoration? Nutritional rehabilitation?
What happens when one has to go to a specialized ICU unit? The dangers of what happens to a body that is starved? The types of dis-eases that can develop? What eating less than 500 calories a day can do to one’s body?
As readers we continue to become witness to Olive’s story.
We become hopeful for her metabolism and its recovery.
How will she recover from her obsession with weight loss?
The author provides much in the way of giving excellent background science of what a body goes through – what is needed to assist the recovery, besides sharing Olive’s own personal, harrowing story.
She is honest about the triggers that can lead to relapse, or the cause of anorexia in the first place.
There was a point in which Olive was talking to her doctor about the time she was swimming and she said, “I wanted to be better. I wanted to be prettier and more athletic. I wanted to be satisfied with myself because I’ve lived my entire life feeling the opposite.”
At that moment I wanted to cry. How many of us have felt that way at one point or another?
The author’s science discussion is interesting and relevant. Her story heart-breaking and touching and important.
For her she needed to break free from the constant mind screaming sentence that would tell her by eating she was going to gain weight and be fat. She needed to be able to find a way to have a good relationship with food. Recognize the positive nutritional life-saving benefits of food.
For anyone who has young children, it is so important to recognize the pressures they face just be-ing in this world. So important to help them see that they are enough, and beautiful just as they are. And hope that there aren’t people (especially adult role models) out there who are judging them based on how they look, or expecting them to lose 5 pounds, because they are not good enough just as they are.
Because look at what just one person did to this individual who took the time to write this book.
The good news is that there can be recovery.
I have to believe writing this book was cathartic for this author. I didn’t ask her, and I may be assuming, but it felt like it as I read this story.
This is an important book. I highly recommend it.
I want to thank the author for this complimentary book for our Little Free Library Shed. I am providing an honest review.
What becomes of our own self-esteem, the self-judgment of what we are supposed to look like – how thin we are supposed to be in comparison to someone else when we look in the mirror each day?
How many of us have been self-critical and taken extremes to have what we believed would be the “perfect” body to meet the “perfect” image for acceptance by others – or most importantly, acceptance by ourselves?
And what kind of relationship would we have with our own weight scale to get there?
Eve Yang starts off her book with the heading – 5 pounds. We know immediately what she is talking about. Her "protagonist" Olive is assessing herself. She is realizing what it is going to take to look like the perfect person, if only she weighed 5 pounds less. The mirror was judging her again.
And then we see almost immediately the cause and effect of what caused her need to be so concerned. Her coach. “You look in shape,” he said nonchalantly.
How many adults have given us these messages “nonchalantly” without realizing how hurtful and painful and messy those expectations of us to look and be a certain weight affect us to do these extreme things to ourselves?
Turning the page, we learn that this same coach insisted that other girls on her swim team, lose 5 pounds, too. Why? Will it help them to swim faster?
Olive describes these girls with an already lean physique.
This reviewer wants to know…what is wrong with these adults?
The author then begins to describe the science behind anorexia nervosa – but not dismissing the environmental or social influences that contribute to its cause.
While talking about the science, she also weaves Olive’s personal story in-between the pages.
Her story is now. She is relaying her experience even as Covid hits. Her parents are there with her. Concerned. Wanting to watch over her as she eats. Do they need to weigh her regularly to make sure she doesn’t slip away?
The good news is that she has the support of her family. But even with their support, she is out of control and needs a doctor’s care and the ER. How had she become a high-risk patient? How could a person do this to themselves? Would she risk eating for a feeding tube?
What happens to rational and logical decision making? The author goes into scientific explanations.
What will it take for weight restoration? Mind restoration? Nutritional rehabilitation?
What happens when one has to go to a specialized ICU unit? The dangers of what happens to a body that is starved? The types of dis-eases that can develop? What eating less than 500 calories a day can do to one’s body?
As readers we continue to become witness to Olive’s story.
We become hopeful for her metabolism and its recovery.
How will she recover from her obsession with weight loss?
The author provides much in the way of giving excellent background science of what a body goes through – what is needed to assist the recovery, besides sharing Olive’s own personal, harrowing story.
She is honest about the triggers that can lead to relapse, or the cause of anorexia in the first place.
There was a point in which Olive was talking to her doctor about the time she was swimming and she said, “I wanted to be better. I wanted to be prettier and more athletic. I wanted to be satisfied with myself because I’ve lived my entire life feeling the opposite.”
At that moment I wanted to cry. How many of us have felt that way at one point or another?
The author’s science discussion is interesting and relevant. Her story heart-breaking and touching and important.
For her she needed to break free from the constant mind screaming sentence that would tell her by eating she was going to gain weight and be fat. She needed to be able to find a way to have a good relationship with food. Recognize the positive nutritional life-saving benefits of food.
For anyone who has young children, it is so important to recognize the pressures they face just be-ing in this world. So important to help them see that they are enough, and beautiful just as they are. And hope that there aren’t people (especially adult role models) out there who are judging them based on how they look, or expecting them to lose 5 pounds, because they are not good enough just as they are.
Because look at what just one person did to this individual who took the time to write this book.
The good news is that there can be recovery.
I have to believe writing this book was cathartic for this author. I didn’t ask her, and I may be assuming, but it felt like it as I read this story.
This is an important book. I highly recommend it.
I want to thank the author for this complimentary book for our Little Free Library Shed. I am providing an honest review.
Displaying 1 of 1 review