The author of groundbreaking early works on anorexia discusses the latest treatments and offers up-to-date advice on how families can help their loved ones. Anatomy of Anorexia is a tremendous tool for families: Now more than ever, early diagnosis and treatment, and family participation, are crucial in preventing anorexia from becoming a chronic condition and can save the life of the anorexic. Writing for those who suffer from anorexia as well as their parents, friends, and therapists, Steven Levenkron traces the stages of the disorder from an innocent desire to "lose a few pounds" to the lethal stage of the disease where the life of the victim is at stake. He discusses the multiple origins of this disorder: childhood trauma, society's role in demoralizing girls and women by encouraging an obsession with body image, genetics, and familial origins. Families can participate in the detection and cure of the disorder by fostering a climate of understanding, support, and love.