Part memoir, part journalism, part list-of-questions, this is a really engaging addition to the "why are we obsessed with food and bodies?" genre of nonfiction. As someone with a history of EDs and someone who works in an industry that is way too focused on thinness, I related to a lot of what Kazdin wrote-- and I was grateful to her for not holding back on her own disordered thoughts, using them as a launchpad for research. While none of it felt particularly NEW, the perspective was fresh, and I enjoyed the read.

I was hesitant to read this, because it is by a man. However, I am so glad I did! He did his research, and this book is extremely compelling and well written.

The author discusses her experiences with her eating disorder and road to 'recovery' while also discussing societal issues that play into eating disorders. I appreciated that the author took time throughout the book to note when her experience wasn't the norm for many people battling these disorders and address how difficult it can be for people with these issues to be taken seriously when seeking treatment or even just a diagnosis.

This book is a somewhat uncomfortable mix of personal confession and research -- a mix that is popular in many books today, but that for me didn't work quite so well here as in some others. While I applaud the author's honesty and passion, concerning a subject that truly needs much more attention and compassionate understanding, for me her presentation could have used more development, editing, or just further processing before being published. I was not a fan of her colloquial style (with remarks like "So I was like..." and "Yay?"), which I found off-putting and distracting rather than disarming.

As to the content, important points are made, convincingly: the booming diet industry is a fraud that is making people fatter and sicker, and is in evil league with the eating-disorder recovery industry, similarly a field with dismal results that feed its repeat business model. This must be uncovered and dealt with. Another well-covered field was the bias toward people of color, who are not diagnosed or treated for or even considered capable of having eating disorders, a deadly form of bias that exacerbates the racial trauma that makes this population vulnerable in the first place.

Otherwise, there is not a comprehensive coverage of eating disorders and their treatment (or lack thereof), but a smattering of interviews and data interwoven with Kazdin's own ongoing struggles to heal from anorexia. Again, this is all very heartfelt and valuable in many ways, but with some large holes in it. The "diet culture" comes in for a lot of criticism, but there is zero coverage of the emotional, interpersonal, and family-history issues that play into the disease, under the level of the outward behavior -- as with any addiction. Kazdin was helped to change her behavior by a behavioral therapist, but not to delve into its sources, and she doesn't try to do it herself. Is she being protective of her family? Does she not want to know about this aspect of her own disease? Both as reportage and as memoir, there seems to be something missing here.

It's still worth reading, because (as Kazdin points out) there is a dearth of research and fruitful dialogue around eating disorders. I just wish it could have been taken a step further, but surely that will come, as more voices emerge to protest the wrongs that are being done in the name of "health" and to tell their stories. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the book.

One womans struggle with food and how it affected her. Good treatment pointers. It was informative to see how treatment for eating disorders has changed through the years.

I’m not actually disappointed by this book, but it isn’t quite what I was expecting. I thought it was sociological analysis of the issues in the subtitle and while that is present, the book is much of a memoir. Let me rephrase; it’s more journalistic than sociological, and more memoir than either.

While the journalism was engaging and I appreciate how wide-ranging the interviews were, I had some difficulty empathizing with the author. I’m sure this book will help many readers, but might benefit even more readers with less explicit reference to the author’s dress size. Wouldn’t it have the same impact if we didn’t know that she was taking her size 00 suits to be tailored? And that she is still quite slim? Or maybe I’m just not in the right headspace of recovering from my own disordered eating to read this.

ARC provided by #NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

This book is meant for people with eating disorders. I like how the author talks about hers and what she went through. I think this book should be read by everyone just because of how eating disorders can affect people. I am grateful that netGalley let me read this in exchange for an honest review

Cole Kazdin writes a brilliant narrative detailing her eating disorder and societal issues that contribute. I wish that this were required reading for all doctors working with kids and young adults.


Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a free review.

Cole Kazdin did an effective job of showcasing how harmful disordered eating and body anxiety can be. Pulling from her own experiences, she was able to show the deep complexity these experiences can have which helped strengthen her cause. I strongly appreciated her taking a whole section of her book to talk about the inequalities BIPOC communities face with these topics.

I loved reading this! Each chapter built on the other, had most recent research, and I appreciated her transparency of her own journey through the book. The only part that “rubbed” me was the section about infertility. This is purely a personal issue as I have chosen not to have kids in my life which also comes with its own issues and projections from society and other women about this decision. That aside, I would recommend this book to many people.

As someone who has dealt with an eating disorder and still has an unhealthy relationship with food, this book hit really close to home. The way that the author explained their experiences with their eating disorder and what they've gone through was inspiring and I felt as though I could relate to what was happening in the book. I enjoyed how the author puts different perspectives about eating disorders, such as how it affects BIPOC individuals and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who may have dealt with an eating disorder or who needs a glimmer of hope.

*Be aware that the author does go into detail about their experiences, so if you do have triggers be weary.

Unfortunately I had to put this one down after reading the first 100 pages or so. As someone who had an eating disorder in the past, I thought it would be nice to read someone else’s story - but I found it to be triggering and brought back memories I didn’t want to resurface.
Though maybe someone else will enjoy it. I really liked how the author was so open with her experience and give her a lot of bravery and claps for doing so.

This book's intro hit home. I understood, in a fundamental way, everything the author expressed and had experienced. And honestly, it made me nervous--was I ready to face these demons? Relinquish them?

As I cautiously read on, gaining hope that this book wasn't full of useless platitudes or impossible rules to live by . . . I kept reading and my hope and understanding grew every few pages. I was starting over, I realized. Banishing all the unhelpful and unhealthy ideals, beliefs, relationships with food I'd piled up starting as a small child. I knew there were some but I was stunned by just how many had attributed to my predicament. I was also unaware to ortherexia which I can honestly say I am guilty of nowadays.

This book explains the hows and then delves into the triggers which are crucial to finally step into the healthy new outlook we all strive for. This was a great book. I strongly recommend it to any woman who's had an eating disorder, has an eating disorder, knows another woman with an eating disorder, counts calories of every meal or every day, or who is always on some diet. READ THIS!

What's Eating Us: Women, Food, and the Epidemic of Body Anxiety by Cole Kazdin is a great nonfiction that is part memoir part research and part self-help that I enjoyed.

This book is real, raw, honest, and lets each of us (whether we are diagnosed with eating disorders or those that are not) know that none of us are alone in this struggle.

The author, who herself is experiencing a lifetime of struggles, trials, and successes, gives us fellow women that are dealing with our own eating disorders (ummm me) and to be honest, each an every woman that has had obstacles, traumas, stereotypes thrown their way, been marginalized and objectified a sense of belonging and understanding.

We are not alone. We are not crazy. Society is messed up…but we can fix it, and help ourselves and each other in the process. Our bodies are beautiful. They are flawed, but they do so much for us that we take it for granted. I am trying to remember each day to thank my blessings and to thank my body for all that it does for me and not dwell on what it can’t do or what it doesn’t look like. I want that for each of us, and so does the author.

I thank her for her story and her courage to work toward a brighter future, flaws and all.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and St Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/7/23.

Wow! This book had me engaged from it's opening chapter!

I enjoyed the dynamic writing style of Kazdin which was whip-smart, funny and rich with knowledge and critical thinking. I really appreciated the way that Kazdin went about exploring this topic of eating, disordered eating, our addictions and predilection of being preyed upon and reinforcing of social media's portrayals over what is beauty and the meritocracy of being "skinny." Readers will want to slowly work your way through What's Eating Us to really let this information sit and digest. I truly learned a lot from What's Eating Us.

From candidly sharing stories of their own struggle to the interlacing of fact against media's distorted fiction - What's Eating US is one of the better books I have read about food and our insatiable. appetite for diet culture and self destruction.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was absolutely fascinating and a must read for all women! This is one I'll return to again. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.