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Syllabus of Seminar

Module 7 - The Humanistic Approach - Communication and humanities

Assignments

Discussion points

What are some important considerations that doctors need to know before talking to their patients about weight? (Weight is about health and not appearance; weight is a personal and often sensitive topic, communication should be motivating, not stigmatising)

How can you argue that fat is not lazy, greedy, morally irresponsible? It is not always unhealthy?

What is fat stigma, body shame/bias? How can health practitioners be biased in their approach to obesity?

What are some benefits of journal/diary writing in the case of eating disorders? (https://www.montenido.com/journaling-essential-part-eating-disorder-treatment/ )

What is art therapy and how can it help with the management of eating disorders?



Critical article reviews

Please read the articles below carefully, and respond to the following questions in 1-2 pages (double-spaced, 1” margins, Times 12-point font)

Article 1
Frisch, M.J., Franko, D.L., Herzog, D.B. (2006). Arts-based therapies in the treatment of eating disorders. Eat Disord. 2006 Mar-Apr;14(2):131-42.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10640260500403857?needAccess=true

Questions

1. Briefly summarize the intervention.
2. What are the benefits of art therapy in eating disorders?



Critical article reviews

Article 2
Troscianko, E.T. Literary reading and eating disorders: survey evidence of therapeutic help and harm. J Eat Disord 6, 8 (2018).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-018-0191-5
https://jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40337-018-0191-5

Question/s

What are the therapeutic effects of self-help bibliotherapy in Eating disorders?



Critical article reviews

Article 3
Wadden TA, Didie E. What's in a name? Patients' preferred terms for describing obesity. Obes Res. 2003 Sep;11(9):1140-6. doi: 10.1038/oby.2003.155. PMID: 12972685.

Question/s

What are some of the terms that obese individuals find undesirable or desirable for their doctors to use to describe excess weight



Position papers

Oral argument

Humanistic Therapies for Obesity and Eating Disorders
Think how you are going to argue in class on this topic. Alternatively, you can create a 15-slide PP to be presented in class. Prepare to answer questions. You can use the resources from the Further resources section as a starting point.


Written report

In about 3-5 pages write a report on Communicating with patients with obesity and eating disorders. Linguistic aspects, stigma and bias. Bring for and against arguments. Include evidence from the materials studied in class and also include at least two recent articles.
Technical requirements: use TNR 12, 1.5 space between lines, justified, equal margins 2cm, A4.



Final presentation

Make a final presentation on A Humanistic Approach to Obesity and Eating Disorders that you may be asked to present in class (20 min PP) presented as a team. It will be up to the team to divide the labour for the presentation. You will be expected to spend time meeting outside of class. The in-class PP presentation will summarize the topic in terms of competing approaches to it (for or against, pro/con, or other, as relevant to the topic) as discussed in class, present a case for choosing a particular side, and describe the intervention approach (or approaches) that would result from taking that side or stance.