Most of us think of the obsession with thinness as a phenomenon of recent years. Beginning with supermodel Twiggy in the 1960s and continuing with supermodel Kate Moss in the 1990s, the thin look has seemed to dominate fashion ads. And not only that: television, movies, and magazines constantly project images of lean, fit bodies. [...]
Preparation: Preparing patients for the group experience is absolutely crucial. Half an hour spent explaining what to expect and how the group operates can mean the difference between success and failure. I tell patients that group therapy will give them a chance to see others express all kinds of feelings-positive and negative-and will provide feedback [...]
Kym Hubert lost 85 pounds, but not until she finally threw out the scale that had become her obsession. Kym, of Chino Hills, California, had struggled with her weight for 20 years—a consequence of her preference for fatty foods (chocolate milkshakes were her favorite). In 1991, she joined a weight-loss program that required daily weigh-ins. [...]