Based on author Thomas Cash's clinically tested program, this major revision of The Body Image Workbook offers readers who are concerned or distressed about their body image an eight-step program for transforming their relationships with their bodies. North Americans boast the largest waistlines in the world, suffering from epidemic levels of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Other nations with first-world affluence are all wrestling to varying degrees this these problem too, and even countries in the earlier stages of industrialization are starting to get caught up in the battle of the bulge. Despite the fact that North Americans are all, on average, quite overweight, our cultural media promotes a "cult of the thin and beautiful." All of us are bombarded with images and messages all day that lead many to unhealthful obsessions with the shape of their bodies. At best, these body-image issues can be unpleasant and distracting from the goal of being healthy and happy. At worst they can lead to serious mental health problems like body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) or eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia nervosa. This revised edition of The Body Image Workbook presents a complete approach to dealing with body image issues. It includes new evidence that confirms the effectiveness of its cognitive behavioural approach. The book presents new discussions of cosmetic surgery, weight loss and other body-fixing options, as well as information for persons with physically disfiguring conditions. A major shift in this edition orients this book with others grounded in the tradition of mindfulness and acceptance. Author Bio THOMAS F. CASH, PhD, is university professor of psychology at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. During his career, he has published more than 200 scholarly articles and six books on topics related to body image and human appearance. He is the founding editor-in-chief of Body Image: An International Journal of Research. Cash's professional website is located at www.body-images.com. |