ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors explain the difference between “dieting,” “disordered eating,” and “eating disorder.” They take readers through a “history of dieting,” ultimately emphasizing how the urge to control our food has been present for centuries. The authors debunk the term “lifestyle change,” and explain how chronic dieting has a similar impact on overall happiness and well-being as clinical eating disorders. They once again invite readers to embrace that this book is for them – whether they have been diagnosed with an eating disorder, or are simply sick and tired of the diet/binge/diet rollercoaster.
