Yes: to me, a Problem Novel is one in which the character is secondary to the Problem. This was the opposite: I cared more about Lia than I did about anorexia, although of course I wanted her to recover so that she wouldn't continue to be miserable (and probably die).

It also did the remarkable thing of making me, someone who is pretty darn comfortable with her body, completely understand and sympathize with Lia. I wanted her to get better, because I liked her, but I didn't go, "Eat something, GOD," because I understood her. Even when understanding her was hard and painful.