Abstract

Drawing on more than a decade's experience as director of The Kartini Clinic, Julie O'Toole offers a fresh perspective on childhood eating disorders and invaluable insights for parents and professionals.

Describing the foundational philosophy behind The Kartini Clinic's proven and world-renowned treatment protocol, O'Toole presents compelling evidence that childhood eating disorders have a neurological rather than a psycho-social basis, and explains what this means for treatment. She describes clearly what patients and families can expect from treatment, signs and symptoms indicating the need for hospitalization, and advice on how to recognise a relapse. The book also includes clear descriptions of The Kartini Clinic's ground-breaking Meal Plan and approach to 'capping' weight gain.

Give Food a Chance is an invaluable resource that will give parents and professionals everywhere the information, encouragement, and support they need to deal with this often misunderstood disorder.

Julie O'Toole, MD, MPH CEDS is founder and Chief Medical Officer of Kartini Clinic for Children and Families in Portland, Oregon. She is a board certified pediatrician and has been in private pediatric practice for more than two decades. She is a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Society for Adolescent Medicine, NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association), and a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS). She also has a master's degree in public health (international health).
O'Toole's gentle non-judgmental style and wealth of experience makes this a valuable read for parents and professionals alike.
Youth in Mind
There are books one recommends to strangers, and those one presses on friends. I will be showing 'Give Food a Chance' to my friends and enemies alike, and I look forward to the discussion it will initiate. O'Toole presents a conflict for all of us: We can either remain stuck in old and ineffective ideas or have the courage to reject them.
Laura Collins Lyster-Mensh, Executive Director, F.E.A.S.T. (Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders), FEAST-ED.org