Some Brief Definitions

Anorexia - loss of appetite, often as a result of the side-effects of medication.

Anorexia Nervosa - a disease that convinces a person to willfully starve themself. It is to hold the desire to be thin, at any cost and by any method, as the only way to regain control of your life. Believing the lie that "To be thin is to be beautiful."

Bulimia - a continuous, abnormal hunger.

Bulimia Nervosa - a disease in which the consumption of food becomes the only comfort and mechanism for coping with life's problems. But, because our culture teaches us that the most important thing for a woman to be is thin, people who suffer from bulimia nervosa will do anything to purge from their bodies all of the food they just consumed.

A Few Online Resources

Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders: http://www.something-fishy.org/

A massive web site with dozens of resources for just about everyone who has to cope with eating disorders-including spouses, siblings, parents, and friends-and concrete suggestions about how you can help yourself or someone you love.
 

Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center: http://www.edreferral.com/

Another large site with many resources for the prevention and treatment of eating disorders.
 

RecoveryBooks.com: http://recoverybooks.com/food.html

This site provides a list of print resources on eating disorders, and notates which books were written from a Christian perspective.
 

The official website of Holy Hunger: A Memoir of Desire, by Margaret Bullitt-Jonas: http://www.holyhunger.com/

The story of a Christian woman and her struggle with eating disorders.
 

Suite 101: http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/anorexia

This site includes associated links and opportunities to join discussion groups.
 

Mental Health Net, Eating Disorders: http://mentalhelp.net/guide/eating.htm

More on-line resources and additional links; home of the oldest & largest online mental health directory guide & community, maintained by CMHC Systems.
 

Anorexia Information and Guidance for Patients, Family, and Friends: http://users.neca.com/cwildes/

Cheryl A. Wildes created this web site in order to share with others her sister's experience with anorexia, in the hopes that, even though her sister will die from complications of anorexia, her story might be able to help others.
 

Body Positive: http://www.bodypositive.com/

A site devoted to changing the way you think about yourself: "Change Your Mind, Change Your Culture, and Let Your Body Be." Numerous opportunities to become a part of their discussions.
 

Anorexia in Men: http://www.primenet.com/~danslos/males/links.html

List of links concentrating on men's struggle with anorexia.