ABSTRACT
Adolescents' preoccupation with their bodies has been long recognized and robustly documented. Successive generations will be remembered for their experimentation with drugs and alcohol, signature hairstyling, distinctive forms of dress, the introduction of jewelry into men's ears, and surgically engendered cosmetic changes. It is in this vein, that future psychiatric texts will probably describe the last quarter of the 20th century as the “golden years of diet.” The general public's appreciation, recognition, and understanding of dietary abuses and associated disorders have increased markedly over the past decade alone. As recently as the 1970's, few families had ever heard of the terms anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Now, these eating disorders are the substance of made-for-television movies, feature articles in popular magazines, and both public and private school prevention programs.
