Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

This volume, which examines child and adolescent nutrition and eating disorders, is based on topics addressed at numerous symposia sponsored by the La Crosse Exercise and Health Program of the University of Wisconsin--La Crosse. While most contributors and editors of the book are affiliated with eating disorder clinics, some are sports medicine or physical education practitioners. All are recognized professionals in their respective fields. The format of the book is interesting. Eating disorders are discussed in a "core" of eight chapters and childhood obesity is covered in another "core" of four chapters. Additional chapters provide information on the rationale of exercise and activity in managing eating disorders, describe community based programs, examine the influences of the family in the development of feeding and eating habits, and emphasize the social role of eating behaviors. The book's strong focus on the sociological basis of anorexia and eating behaviors sets it apart from the many books written on this topic. Some chapters provide theoretical background while others are pragmatic in approach; some chapters include useful tools for the practitioners (e.g., tables of complications of eating disorders, an assessment checklist, and exercise programming charts). For upper-division undergraduate and graduate collections. -N. S. Springer, University of Michigan