ABSTRACT
In our model positive beliefs about eating and eating-related cognitive processes occur in conjunction with negative beliefs (discussed in Chapter 8) and general negative self beliefs. Together they interact in the development and maintenance of bulimia nervosa. In Chapter 8 negative beliefs were considered, and strategies to modify them were identi®ed. This chapter introduces positive beliefs about eating. It describes strategies to identify key positive beliefs, and outlines ways to deal with them. These include strategies involving verbal reattribution, such as an advantages versus disadvantages analysis, reviewing the counter-evidence, taking a longer term perspective and introducing ¯exibility into thinking. Behavioural experiments are also discussed, as are speci®c ideas for troubleshooting, and assessing the risk of potentially dangerous behaviours. Two types of positive belief are considered:
positive beliefs about bingeing positive beliefs about eating-related behaviours such as worry, checking, selective attention to food, eating, weight and shape and compensatory behaviours such as purging and dieting.
