Faryal Khan

English 1102-068
Professor Hughes
4/20/2015

Annotated Bibliography: History of Fasting

Vandereycken, Walter, and Ron . Deth. From Fasting Saints to Anorexic Girls: The History of
Self-Starvation. Washington Square, N.Y: New York University Press, 1994. Print.
Walter Vandereycken and Ron Van Deth explore the history and issue revolving around
fasting in the western world and the how/ why its significance has changed from a sociocultural perspective. The book covers research from the early centuries of Christianity to
present day, on topics interrelated to find how the meaning of fasting has changed
throughout the years. Topics such as psychology, womens studies, cultural, religious, and
social history are quite important to take in consideration and necessary in order to
expose the origin and current state of fasting, particularly for women from the western
world. Both authors agree on their evidence which they propose and have researched
thoroughly. I am very interested in this topic because as a practicing Muslim from the
Middle East, I observe fasting religiously, and I am curious to learn how it is practiced in
Christianity in the past as well as in todays society for Christians.
Brumburg, B. Jacobs "Fasting Girls: The Emergence of Anorexia Nervosa as a Disease." Journal
of the History of the Behavioral Sciences 28.1 (1992): 90. Academic Search Complete.
Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
The author believes that the pressure for young women to become thin and fit
an n ideal body type is more of an issue which revolves around the psychological signs in
the cases for anorexia nervosa, which he believes first emerged in the Victorian ages. The
study takes a historical review of the role and function of female dieting, food, appetite,

Faryal Khan
English 1102-068
Professor Hughes
4/20/2015

and body image and their relation to society and cultural meanings. This reference of
findings on the use of fasting to draws a more superficial gain in ones appearance and
disregard for religious and physical health. The research shows a great opposing point of
use regarding fasting, asides from spiritual gain, in terms of the history of fasting in the
western world. The author also draws an extreme conclusion stating that anorexia nervosa
is a social pressure which has been evolving in the minds of women, particularly
adolescents since the nineteenth century.

Works Cited
Vandereycken, Walter, and Ron . Deth. From Fasting Saints to Anorexic Girls: The History of
Self-Starvation. Washington Square, N.Y: New York University Press, 1994. Print.
Brumburg, B. Jacobs "Fasting Girls: The Emergence of Anorexia Nervosa as a Disease." Journal
of the History of the Behavioral Sciences 28.1 (1992): 90. Academic Search Complete.
Web. 20 Apr. 2015.