Set in working-class, Irish-American Boston of the 1950s–1960s, the author survives emotional and physical deprivation at the hands of the people closest to her, as well as herself, to take control of her life and succeed, using hard work, undaunted intelligence and persistence. At the young age of four, Anne McTiernan was left by her mother at a Catholic boarding school where she emotionally and physically starved. After a doctor forced Anne's mother to bring her home, she used physical and verbal abuse to take out her frustrations on a defenceless little girl. Aunt Margie, who lived with Anne and her mother, provided some comfort to Anne, but she was a weak buffer. Set in working-class, Irish-American Boston of the 1950s–1960s, STARVED is a gripping and inspirational coming-of-age story. During her childhood, Anne goes from a malnourished state to binge eating to obesity. At age fifteen without the love and support from her family, Anne is forced to take full responsibility for her own life through hard work, undaunted intelligence and persistence. Today as a leading doctor and researcher on obesity and health, Anne has helped thousands of women understand and improve their relationship with food. STARVED is the story of how she helped herself.