This international and multi-authored volume is aimed at practitioners and researchers in the field of eating disorders in children and adolescents. The book is pleasingly presented and generally well-written, although it was a little surprising to find that some of the chapters were written by authors not working with children and adolescents. The introduction consists of a truly fascinating historical and developmental review, including reference to Norton's conclusion in 1694 that the condition ‘is due to a malfunction of the brain… ' – clearly a man ahead of his time.

In section two, entitled ‘scientific underpinnings’, there are learned chapters on the regulation of food intake and body weight, the development of weight and shape concerns, and the relation of dieting to eating pathology. The chapter on physical and cognitive changes is uneven in that the section on cognitive changes neglects many fascinating new findings. The chapter on genetics is too technical for the average practitioner or researcher but that on epidemiology would have benefited from some editorial assistance. The neuroimaging chapter is sound but would have benefited from more focus on the findings in childhood and adolescence.

Section three focuses on ‘abnormal states’, with useful contributions on anorexia nervosa, eating disorders in boys, atypical eating problems, disability and chronic illness, and bingeing and bulimia nervosa, as well as chapters on comorbidity, and trauma and obesity.

The section on evidence-based care has useful reviews of acute and chronic medical complications, individual and family psychotherapies, models of service delivery, and psychopharmacology, albeit the latter being rather too slanted toward eating disorders in adults.

The final section, entitled public health perspectives, offers interesting discussions on primary and secondary prevention, although frustratingly makes no mention of the potential of targeting children in middle childhood (e.g. 6- to 10-year-olds) who are possibly more likely to benefit than adolescents, in whom unhealthy attitudes may have already developed. The chapter on outcome reminds us of how poor the prognosis is for eating disorders

This volume does not focus on the subtleties and complexities of clinical practice and those wishing to enhance their clinical skills will need to look elsewhere. However, there is much of interest and value for those who wish to gain an overview of current knowledge of the many problems in this population, without having to delve into a voluminous text.