Stacey M. Rosenfeld

I remember listening to a young man telling his significant other that she really needed to watch her figure. Why the incident stuck out is that she was slim and well put together while he was shirtless and pudgy looking standing there in his shorts. That incident stayed with me as an example of how we are obsessed with women’s looks. No wonder women have a problem with food, diet and body image.

Rosenfeld points out how women size up each other constantly as though in an on-going show more competition. She writes that diets don’t work except to make the diet industry rich and that thin does not necessarily mean healthy. Her answer is to break the cycle of diets and obsession with body image.

Going to a restaurant and getting something from the menu with less calories rather than what appeals – it’s me who does that. I do that and more. As I read the book I was surprised to find how many of the disordered habits I practise without thinking about them. [Does Every Woman have an Eating Disorder?] was an eye-opening read. show less

Rosenfeld is a clinical psychologist who specializes in helping those with eating disorders and body image concerns. She explores different angles of our culture that cause girls and women to have negative or unhealthy ideas about their bodies. To me, the most interesting chapter was "Fat Isn't the Problem," where she shows that our common ideas about fat are a social construct and not supported by scientific fact to the degree that we've all been led to believe. In the final chapter the show more author gives some strategies on how to stop the body-loathing and develop healthier attitudes toward oneself. A worthwhile read. show less

I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers. The author, Stacey M. Rosenfeld is a clinical psychologist who specializes in eating disorders and body issues. In the book, Rosenfeld posits that even though every woman may not have a clinically defined eating disorder, most women nonetheless have a disordered relationship with food that falls on the eating disorder spectrum because of certain habits like restriction and food rules.

The book is organized so that the first two show more chapters focus on the disordered eating, its prevalence, and thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that fall under the disordered eating umbrella. Chapters 3-5 were more of a cultural study examining how women are conditioned and reinforced by society that thin is better than fat. Rosenfeld then produces a timeline of how a woman is affected by those values from birth to death. Chapter seven looks at feminist ideologies and addresses why more women than men have eating disorders. The last chapter provides guidance on how to change your thinking and behaviors if you do happen to exhibit the disordered habits she discusses throughout the book.

My main thought while reading this book was that I couldn't tell whether it wanted to be an examination of disordered eating habits and expose women to the idea that even if they haven't been diagnosed with an eating disorder, their relationships with food may not be healthy OR if it wanted to be a self-help book. I would have preferred sticking to the former, though I can see why the author needed to include the latter. I just don't think it was balanced quite well enough.

Overall, I found the book to be an intriguing look at how societal pressure is causing women to have disordered relationships with food and how, sadly, this is viewed as normal. show less

Ii thought this book brought a very good approach to a not so popular subject. Dr. Rosenfeld truly challenges women and culture to change the way the female body is viewed, thinking the only way to be a successful woman is to be a thin woman. This is a great book for any woman who is struggling with weight issues or food addiction issues.