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Table for Two: Biblical Counsel for Eating Disorders
Breaking free from an eating disorder is difficult and complex. Those who are suffering often feel misunderstood. They struggle with feeling alone and afraid, ashamed to tell those closest to them. Their loved ones also feel helpless and ill-equipped to care for them. Within this dynamic, hurt, disappointment, and neglect often thrive. From the unique perspective of a husband and wife team, Table for Two shares Krista Dunham's journey to freedom from her eating disorder while David shares insights as the loved one coming beside her. Krista suffered from an eating disorder for over ten years and, by God's grace and through biblical counseling, overcame it. She openly and honestly shares her experience, describing what she did, what she needed, and what proved helpful in the process of change. In conjunction with her insights, David shares what he did, how he failed, and what he learned along the way as a biblical counselor that was helpful to Krista. Without minimizing complicated issues, the Dunhams provide practical, gospel hope and biblical encouragement to those suffering and help for loved ones walking with them. They share personal narratives, interactive exercises, and biblical direction for those navigating recovery. Individuals suffering from an eating disorder - and loved ones - will find practical help, hope, and encouragement in this couple's story. Applying the truth of Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, they know two are better than one and understand the need to connect and jointly navigate the process together. This powerful, redemptive book reveals an intimacy beyond personal stories of struggle told through a biblical counseling lens; it highlights the close-knit relationship of husband and wife and a home life where one person struggles with an eating disorder.
134 pages, Paperback
Published April 26, 2021
26 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
David R. Dunham
6 books2 followersDavid R. Dunham ministers to people with addictions as pastor of counseling and discipleship at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Roseville, Michigan. He also writes and speaks about ministry, counseling, and addiction for the Biblical Counseling Coalition.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 16, 2021
Excellent resource! This is a small, concise, manageable book on an all-too-common and complex topic. It primarily deals with under-eating, excessive exercise and purging. The Dunham’s balance sound Biblical Truth with practical assessment tools and application. The book is written for both sufferers and their loved ones/helpers with questions and discussion guides at the end of every chapter. I especially appreciated that they encouraged helpers to apply Biblical Truths to their lives as well to foster a more reciprocal conversation. I would encourage helpers to read the final chapter, if not the whole book, before starting it with a sufferer to gain a better grasp on the struggles and reasonable expectations of helping someone with disordered eating. Highly recommend!
April 2, 2024
Super late review, but I read this over the summer in Thailand. I feel like ED doesn’t really get talked about much in the church so this was one of the only books I could find. It was okay, but I wanted more!! The sweet part was that it was intentionally designed for someone to help you through the tough stages and get insight on the struggles with ED. Great discipleship tool, but some parts I felt were unhelpful/unnecessary. Small book, worth a read.
February 27, 2022
Practical and insightful. This book is for both the helper and someone needing help. Over and over the authors remind us that change comes only when we see Christ as better than anything else; “He (Jesus) is the only true replacement”. Psalm 145-He satisfies the desire of every living thing.
August 29, 2021
There are many excellent books that address eating disorders Biblically, but this one is unique in that it offers the perspective of both the helper and the sufferer. Written by a husband and wife (she struggled with an eating disorder for many years and he is a Biblical Counselor), the book bounces back and forth between sharing her struggles, thoughts, and fears and his efforts to help her. Both share valuable things they learned as they grew both in their dating/marriage relationship as a whole as well as in this particular area. The book contains many helpful questions and surveys throughout its pages for both the helper and the sufferer to use, making it an excellent resource for counseling. All people--those who struggle with an eating disorder, know someone who do, or just want to learn more about eating disorders in general--will benefit from David and Krista Dunham's very transparent sharing of their testimony. I highly recommend it!
August 20, 2022
Hands down one of the best testimony & counseling/self-help books I’ve read. Easy to understand, open, honest with practical guides & advice for the sufferers & helpers. It’s not always you find a book threaded by faith. The core of healing is described through scripture & the never ending love Christ has for us. My daughter lent me her copy, but I will be purchasing my own copy so I can selfishly write notes & highlight all the important & encouraging messages. If you have a loved one who suffers from eating disorder, please invest in this book. When a loved one suffers, it’s easy to say we are empathetic, compassionate but we all have to put the work in to create a nucleus & cushion of support. 129 pages. So worth it.
July 5, 2024
I thought this was a great read. I really appreciated Krista and David’s honest testimony and insights. I also liked that each chapter ended with takeaways and questions for both the sufferer and the helper. As the conclusion in the book states, “books don’t change people”, so obviously there aren’t silver bullets in here. But I think it’s a great tool for getting conversations started and providing questions to work toward identifying motives and heart issues and then moving forward from there.
December 31, 2024
The Dunham's tackle an issue that is common in our society today. This book is the best resource I have read on eating disorders. An essential aspect of this book is that it includes questions for the "helper" and the one needing help. I will be returning to this resource frequently in the future if I ever counsel someone with an eating disorder.
January 6, 2023
Part memoir, part practical guide. I appreciated the story, and also appreciated the questions and charts they included in the book- to be used with clients.
January 12, 2025
“The values that drive an eating disorder impact a whole life, not just the dinner table.” To stop disordered eating, we must first confront disordered desire. There is no Scripture that commands or even commends thinness. In fact, a skinny body can connote a skinny soul. “Sin is always an attempt to do life apart from God, to gain happiness or escape pain on our own terms.” Denying bodily hunger and appetite is the mind’s attempt to achieve independence from the body. In effect it is fulfilling 1 Corinthians 12:
“Just as the human body is one, though it has many parts that together form one body, so too is Christ…In fact, the human body is not one single part but rather many parts mingled into one.” So if the brain were to say, ‘Since I’m not a stomach, I’m not a part of the body. I don’t need you,” it’s forgetting that it is still a vital part of the body. And if the stomach were to say, “Since I’m not a brain, I’m not really a part of the body. I don’t need you,” it’s forgetting that it is still an important part of the body. If the whole body were just an intellect, how could it delight in physical appetite? And if the whole body were just a stomach, how could it discern wisdom and knowledge?
“But God has carefully designed each member and placed it in the body to function as HE desires. A diversity is required, for if the body consisted of one single part, there wouldn’t be a body at all…He has done this intentionally so that every member would look after the others with mutual concern, and so that there will be no division in the body. In that way, whatever happens to one member happens to all. If one suffers, everyone suffers. If one is honored, everyone rejoices.”
So now we see that disordered eating is the enemy’s attempt to divorce the differing parts and functions from their unity as one body. We each bring a different color to God’s masterpiece, as each person brings unique experiences and characteristics to any relationship. As we splotch the paint of our personality onto His palette, He swirls our individual colors into new hues that together comprise a work of art to decorate the dining room of heaven where the table for two becomes a table for all.
“Just as the human body is one, though it has many parts that together form one body, so too is Christ…In fact, the human body is not one single part but rather many parts mingled into one.” So if the brain were to say, ‘Since I’m not a stomach, I’m not a part of the body. I don’t need you,” it’s forgetting that it is still a vital part of the body. And if the stomach were to say, “Since I’m not a brain, I’m not really a part of the body. I don’t need you,” it’s forgetting that it is still an important part of the body. If the whole body were just an intellect, how could it delight in physical appetite? And if the whole body were just a stomach, how could it discern wisdom and knowledge?
“But God has carefully designed each member and placed it in the body to function as HE desires. A diversity is required, for if the body consisted of one single part, there wouldn’t be a body at all…He has done this intentionally so that every member would look after the others with mutual concern, and so that there will be no division in the body. In that way, whatever happens to one member happens to all. If one suffers, everyone suffers. If one is honored, everyone rejoices.”
So now we see that disordered eating is the enemy’s attempt to divorce the differing parts and functions from their unity as one body. We each bring a different color to God’s masterpiece, as each person brings unique experiences and characteristics to any relationship. As we splotch the paint of our personality onto His palette, He swirls our individual colors into new hues that together comprise a work of art to decorate the dining room of heaven where the table for two becomes a table for all.
September 22, 2021
This book could be useful for anyone with any habitual sin or addiction, not just eating disorders. All these behaviors stem from similar heart places, and the cure is always God’s grace.
I appreciate that it is written for both the sufferer and the loved ones trying to help the sufferer, because I know loved ones usually have no idea how to help efficiently. I appreciate that Krista talks about all the heart motives that went into her eating disorder, and how she ultimately had to address more than just the physical eating disorder before she could grow as a person. I love that Krista has now become a helper for other sufferers. This book is full of hope for people who want to transform, not just simply stop a bad habit.
I appreciate that they talk at the end about replacing the addictive habits with enjoyable activities. The goal is to live better, not just to sit around thinking about not sinning. “Addictive habits can sometimes make it feel like we have no other outlets for fun than those we have used inappropriately…Addictive habits train us to think that only the grand and exciting can be enjoyable. Part of recovery will need to include learning to appreciate the banal activities of life as well.”
I wish I could go back in time and give this book to 20 year old Kristia and David. It would have helped them so much. I appreciate how transparent they are about their past failures, and how much time it took them both to grow. I’m thankful they decided to pull together everything they’ve learned over the years and put it into this book. I hope it helps others, so they don’t have to struggle so hard or for so long. This little book is packed with so much useful information without wasting any words. It seems more succinct than other resources I’ve seen on the topic.
I appreciate that it is written for both the sufferer and the loved ones trying to help the sufferer, because I know loved ones usually have no idea how to help efficiently. I appreciate that Krista talks about all the heart motives that went into her eating disorder, and how she ultimately had to address more than just the physical eating disorder before she could grow as a person. I love that Krista has now become a helper for other sufferers. This book is full of hope for people who want to transform, not just simply stop a bad habit.
I appreciate that they talk at the end about replacing the addictive habits with enjoyable activities. The goal is to live better, not just to sit around thinking about not sinning. “Addictive habits can sometimes make it feel like we have no other outlets for fun than those we have used inappropriately…Addictive habits train us to think that only the grand and exciting can be enjoyable. Part of recovery will need to include learning to appreciate the banal activities of life as well.”
I wish I could go back in time and give this book to 20 year old Kristia and David. It would have helped them so much. I appreciate how transparent they are about their past failures, and how much time it took them both to grow. I’m thankful they decided to pull together everything they’ve learned over the years and put it into this book. I hope it helps others, so they don’t have to struggle so hard or for so long. This little book is packed with so much useful information without wasting any words. It seems more succinct than other resources I’ve seen on the topic.
May 21, 2021
Have you ever tried to walk with someone through a situation you just did not understand?
Having a friend or loved one walk through an eating disorder can produce that feeling in many people. Eating disorders are difficult to understand if you’ve never struggled with one and still seem to be a taboo topic.
In “A Table for Two” Dave and Krista lead us through the story of Krista’s eating disorder and give us the opportunity to understand from two different perspectives. Krista leads us through what it feels like to be the one struggling and through the lessons she learned and Dave helps those of us who are the helpers to see with different eyes and to learn from the mistakes he made and the lessons he learned as well.
I really appreciated the approach that the authors took in this book. It is a biblical counseling book and as such, has a high view of scripture and its usefulness in any situation. At the same time, the authors never make this mental health issue out to be just a spiritual problem, solved easily with a Bible verse and a prayer. They emphasize the seriousness of this mental health crisis and the necessity of getting help from a well trained source.
Each chapter ends with a really helpful guide for both the sufferer and the helper. Written from both Dave and Krista’s view, these questions really help both sides to review what was learned in that chapter and create further discussion.
Throughout the book, it is emphasized that no crisis should be faced alone. This book is a wonderful resource to help people walk together through eating disorders. I’m so thankful that Krista was brave enough to share her story so more people will know that they are not alone.
Having a friend or loved one walk through an eating disorder can produce that feeling in many people. Eating disorders are difficult to understand if you’ve never struggled with one and still seem to be a taboo topic.
In “A Table for Two” Dave and Krista lead us through the story of Krista’s eating disorder and give us the opportunity to understand from two different perspectives. Krista leads us through what it feels like to be the one struggling and through the lessons she learned and Dave helps those of us who are the helpers to see with different eyes and to learn from the mistakes he made and the lessons he learned as well.
I really appreciated the approach that the authors took in this book. It is a biblical counseling book and as such, has a high view of scripture and its usefulness in any situation. At the same time, the authors never make this mental health issue out to be just a spiritual problem, solved easily with a Bible verse and a prayer. They emphasize the seriousness of this mental health crisis and the necessity of getting help from a well trained source.
Each chapter ends with a really helpful guide for both the sufferer and the helper. Written from both Dave and Krista’s view, these questions really help both sides to review what was learned in that chapter and create further discussion.
Throughout the book, it is emphasized that no crisis should be faced alone. This book is a wonderful resource to help people walk together through eating disorders. I’m so thankful that Krista was brave enough to share her story so more people will know that they are not alone.
April 22, 2021
I am impressed with the information in this book.
Krista shares her insights from her experience of an eating disorder. She writes about her motives, her drive for perfection, control, and her self-medicating. How she felt about her body defined her worth. There was the isolation from others. And then she faced the hardest thing – telling someone else about her condition. Krista takes us through the hard decisions and the internal and spiritual work that followed.
David, Krista's husband, shares insights about helping those with eating disorders. He writes about knowing the difference between forcing change and encouraging it. He admits there is no silver bullet. He gives great insight into building trust and loving well.
The authors remind us that the decision to change must come from the person with the disorder. It is so important others provide support in that process. Eating disorders thrive in isolation so the involvement of community is very important.
This is a great book for those who have an eating disorder and those who desire to support them. There are thoughtful exercises for the sufferer and the helper. Krista and David share their good decisions and their mistakes so we get a idea of the bumpy road the path to recovery might be. Krista had a team of specialists help her. This book will not provide that level of help but it will get you in the right direction for your journey with valuable insights and practical suggestions.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Krista shares her insights from her experience of an eating disorder. She writes about her motives, her drive for perfection, control, and her self-medicating. How she felt about her body defined her worth. There was the isolation from others. And then she faced the hardest thing – telling someone else about her condition. Krista takes us through the hard decisions and the internal and spiritual work that followed.
David, Krista's husband, shares insights about helping those with eating disorders. He writes about knowing the difference between forcing change and encouraging it. He admits there is no silver bullet. He gives great insight into building trust and loving well.
The authors remind us that the decision to change must come from the person with the disorder. It is so important others provide support in that process. Eating disorders thrive in isolation so the involvement of community is very important.
This is a great book for those who have an eating disorder and those who desire to support them. There are thoughtful exercises for the sufferer and the helper. Krista and David share their good decisions and their mistakes so we get a idea of the bumpy road the path to recovery might be. Krista had a team of specialists help her. This book will not provide that level of help but it will get you in the right direction for your journey with valuable insights and practical suggestions.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
December 26, 2022
Excellent book for walking through an eating disorder with someone. Had been on the hunt for a biblical book on caring for someone with ED and this was exactly what I was looking for. Meant to be read together with sufferer and helper with great short questions at the end to discuss. Krista suffered with anorexia and her husband was a biblical counseling pastor, they felt at a loss what to do and set out to make a biblically faithful resource for believers struggling with ED. Krista’s honesty and authenticity about her ED is a gift to the sufferer to realize they aren’t alone and that God will redeem it for his glory and the sufferer’s good! It’s also a gift to the helper to remember they cannot fix ED but they can lean into the Holy Spirit and pray and love their loved one through this!
When I heard about this book on a podcast, David and Krista mentioned they believed that ED is the hidden mental illness in the church because it can be disguised as healthy eating or being physically fit in a culture that has told us to value our outward appearance above all else.
When I heard about this book on a podcast, David and Krista mentioned they believed that ED is the hidden mental illness in the church because it can be disguised as healthy eating or being physically fit in a culture that has told us to value our outward appearance above all else.
March 10, 2025
HIGHLY recommend to any Christian who is curious about eating disorders, suffering from one, or close to someone suffering!!! This book fulfills a gap niche in Christian literature that I have not found elsewhere. It is meant to be read in a partnership and includes very helpful exercises in each chapter.
Not only is this book informative about how eating disorders function, it also does not neglect identifying them as sinful. It gives a detailed explanation of how they are idolatrous and how they cause sufferers to put faith in themselves. Krista explains how she could not change her behavior until she repented of it.
The only complaint I can make is that while Krista & David’s relationship as a sufferer/helper couple clearly worked out, I think their example sets a potentially unrealistic precedent for how much support a dating relationship can/should provide in a situation like this.
Not only is this book informative about how eating disorders function, it also does not neglect identifying them as sinful. It gives a detailed explanation of how they are idolatrous and how they cause sufferers to put faith in themselves. Krista explains how she could not change her behavior until she repented of it.
The only complaint I can make is that while Krista & David’s relationship as a sufferer/helper couple clearly worked out, I think their example sets a potentially unrealistic precedent for how much support a dating relationship can/should provide in a situation like this.
October 16, 2025
Very well written! It is rare to find resources that navigate such a complex issue with a Gospel focus. While many attribute disorders to 'brain chemistry' and environmental factors, David and Krista Dunham clearly discuss the role that sin plays. "Table for Two" beautifully shows that an identity found in Christ is crucial if one is to have victory over such a long and difficult battle. This book is both practical and insightful. I wish my psychology classes at a Christian college would have taken this approach.
March 30, 2023
Excellent short resource for both those who struggle with disordered eating and those who are coming alongside those who are struggling. The narrative part of the book focuses more on anorexia, so that may be less helpful for those struggling with other forms of disordered eating, but the resources/strategies have a broader focus.
April 23, 2023
Not too long, practical, yet deep, Biblical and God-centered, heart focused, and good use of personal stories. I hope they perhaps create other individual volumes focusing on specific disorders rather than putting them all together.
October 24, 2025
Written from personal experience and didn't feel overly simplistic. A practical resources for "helper" and "sufferer" to walk through together, and encouraged sufferers to seek support in a number of ways.
March 5, 2022
Amazing resource for the sufferer and helper to read together.
August 26, 2024
Read this on my own, still helpful even if you don’t go through it with someone else. There are very few resources out there on this topic so I’m thankful for the tools & wisdom in here!
December 11, 2024
Great resource!! Chapter 6 is so practical and helpful for all kinds of issues too.
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