Introduction

Begins with a narrative of my introduction to the topic of body image and eating disorders, discussed in relationship to results from a convenience sample I conducted with college students on body image. From here the chapter turns its focus to the main theoretical issues addressed in the book, the roles of culture, family, and the individual in the development of eating disorders. The focus of the book is on white, middle-class, heterosexual females who have anorexia (or bulimia as a secondary condition). Basic demographic and sample information follows. The chapter concludes with a section on how the book is organized, giving detailed summaries of each of the seven chapters.