Appetite: sex, touch and desire in women with anorexia nervosa

by Melissa A. Fabello

Using an exciting model to break down the vastness and complexity of sexuality, this book covers the ways in which women with anorexia nervosa experience sexual health, intimacy, identity, violence, and more – including brand new, never-before-seen research on touch and sensuality. Even better? Taking a social justice perspective, real women's personal narratives take center stage.

99 pages, ebook

First published November 17, 2020

Reviews

[Alison Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Full disclosure: I was one of Dr. Fabello's interviewees during her dissertation research, and thus some of my own words are included in this book. I've also known her online for probably about a decade now.)

I'm so glad this book is out there because it does truly help to start filling in some serious gaps in research regarding people with anorexia nervosa and our experiences around our bodies, sexuality, intimacy, sensuality, etc. There's just not much out there on these topics, and most of what you do find is very limited in scope. Dr. Fabello's sample size may have been small, but she made the intentional effort to be inclusive, speaking with people with anorexia nervosa who represent various racial and ethnic identities, sexualities, gender identities, age groups, disability status, and so on. And because she herself has dealt with anorexia, she approached the topic from a much more nuanced and sensitive point of view.

I appreciate too the focus on the difference between sexual and sensual, because most people conflate the two without even knowing they're doing so. It was also helpful for me to read some of the comments from other interview subjects who echoed some of my own thoughts and struggles.

I do wish some parts had been a little more substantial, and sometimes there was a bit of jarring dissonance in tone, where it would go from being very academic (obviously, since it's the published version of her dissertation) to being rather casual and a bit snarky (but never in a way that felt disrespectful). But overall this is an incredibly important work, and I hope others like me found some representation in it. I also hope people who do not have anorexia but care about someone who does and who has had internal struggles with sensual touch and body discomfort might read this to gain a little more empathy and understanding.

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, concise and compelling explanation of intersectional identities and their relation to eating disorders, sourced from individual interviews and lit review. Great to see a dissertation reworked and made accessible to those who can truly use it.

[Lucie García · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been following Melissa's work for a couple of years and I loved this book! I appreciate the effort she made to understand sexuality in women with anorexia within the academic space, and appreciate even more how she dared to take that understanding and translate it for us mortals to read and learn.
The book is nicely written and helped me understand some of my experiences with my overall sexuality (which, apparently is larger than just sex!) as an ed survivor.
Loved it!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic bit of research on the intersection of sexuality, sensuality and the way bodies are perceived! I thank the author wholeheartedly for the amount of research synthesised in her work. Each chapter is brief and engaging and is followed by a comprehensive list of sources and references for a deeper dive. The language... well that was a breath of fresh air. Having dredged through impenetrable dark forests of ornate academic writing in the past couple of years for my studies, I appreciate the straight forward succinct expression! Brava! Bravissima! Every chapter prompted me to hunger for more information and ignited passion and ideas. Thank you for this!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I snapped up Dr. Melissa Fabello's Appetite the minute I saw it on her website. I was so engrossed in the book that I read the whole thing in under an hour - and then I started reading bits of it to my partner. As a woman in recovery from anorexia, so much of this research applies to me and it helps having a resource to refer to and begin to articulate my experience. It has helped us deepen our relationship and it was enlightening. I highly recommend.

[Chani Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

A researcher and advocate that I follow in a few different capacities I had been looking forward to reading this book - written on the subject of her dissertation. Personal, deeply explored, and eye opening, I felt I learned new ways to describe the things I already knew (and feel validated in them) while also learning new concepts and ideas along the way to continue that understanding. A quick and worthwhile read.

[Caroline Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have followed Melissa’s work since I was in high school and have eagerly awaited the release of this ebook - it was worth the wait! I especially appreciate the effort to make academic research available to people outside of academic institutions. This book breaks down a complex and nuanced topic and makes it accessible to people unfamiliar to eating disorder and human sexuality research.

[Sara Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal. Everyone should read this book. It is well-written, eloquently compiling relevant research and real-experience. Vital for the field of ED treatment, as well as serving those who have struggled with this within their lifetime. Don't miss out on this information.