Dying to Be Thin (Nova Series).(Video Recording Review). Phyllis Levy Mandell.
School Library Journal 51.11 (Nov 2005): p60(1)
Gr 7 Up--Looks at young American women who are falling victim to anorexia and bulimia--ballet dancers, actresses, and others. There are interviews with people being treated for anorexia, including a 14-year-old girl and college students, who talk about their struggles to overcome a life-threatening desire to be thin. The causes of eating disorders and treatments are discussed.

Dying to be Thin.(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation). Carolyn Kirio.
School Library Journal 51.11 (Nov 2005): p62(1).
Gr 7 Up--This companion resource to the NOVA program of the same name examines life-threatening eating disorders and seeks to reveal the reasons patients are consumed by their obsession with weight. The entire program, which originally aired in 2000, is available for viewing online (RealPlayer or QuickTime is needed). The subjects interviewed candidly disclose their personal struggles and share the medical complications which have ensued. Broken into chapters, each section serves as an ideal starter for group/class discussions. An extensive teacher's guide is filled with viewing ideas and activities.

Carolyn Kirio

Dying To Be Thin.(Review). Lori Widzinski.
Library Journal 126.10 (June 1, 2001): p240.
Eating disorders are not about food; they are about the underlying issues that drive people to develop them--control, power, and acceptance. Eating disorders are the most deadly psychiatric illness in the United States, and one of the most difficult to treat successfully. Aimed toward a general audience (from junior high school through college level), these five videos reflect the various types of treatment programs. They all present the known facts and statistics about anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, the two most prevalent eating disorders, and all look at the underlying psychological causes, triggers, family involvement, and ways to combat the disease. There are interviews with patients, physicians, psychiatrists, and family members, but there are distinct differences among these tapes in how thoroughly the problem is investigated and presented.

Eating Disorders (part of Aquarius's "The Doctor Is In" series) and Shadows and Lies are both introductions to eating disorders. Using typical documentary style, they do not go into any one area with a great deal of depth. To its credit, the Aquarius video mentions newer research into alterations of brain chemistry in patients and that ten percent of those with eating disorders are male. Slightly longer than Shadows and Lies, it provides a more balanced overview. ( )