ABSTRACT
This is the “call to action” chapter. Here, the authors explain the step of changing your behavior around food. They talk about a concept called “acting as if” (i.e. behaving as if you are allowed to eat, or as if you appreciate your body, without actually feeling this way on an emotional level). They also discuss cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which is the concept that all of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected and play into one another. The authors explore all of the potential behaviors around food and body that could be problematic and then describe how to change those behaviors using research-proven methods. They also define the biopsychosocial model (the role of genetics, personality, and environment in the development of eating disorders), and explain why it is helpful to begin to piece apart one’s own biopsychosocial model while working through the “acting as if” stage. An emphasis is placed on the importance of small behavior changes that add up to big changes.
