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Childhood Obesity and Anorexia Nervosa

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Handbook of Child Psychopathology

Abstract

Historically, moderate obesity in infants and children has been viewed as a sign of health and as an affirmation that one’s mother is loving and nurtrant. In less affluent countries such as India, obesity is considered to be a demonstration that the family has enough wealth to procure food. Additional evidence also suggests that various cultures differ in the norms for body weight that are considered to be the ideal of physical attractiveness for men and women (Goldblatt, Moore, & Stunkard, 1965).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, 55455, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    Gloria R. Leon & David Dinklage

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  1. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

    Thomas H. Ollendick

  2. Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Michel Hersen

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Leon, G.R., Dinklage, D. (1983). Childhood Obesity and Anorexia Nervosa. In: Ollendick, T.H., Hersen, M. (eds) Handbook of Child Psychopathology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7136-0_10

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