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Syllabus of Seminar

Module 1 - Essentials of Obesity and Eating Disorders

Assignments

Discussion points

Based on the contents of Phase 1 of the lesson, answer the following questions:

  • What are some signs that a person has anorexia?
  • Bulimia nervosa cannot be identified only by visually analyzing an individual. Why?
  • What are some causes of obesity?
  • Why is obesity so difficult to treat?
  • Why “eat less, exercise more” does not work in obesity? (you may wish to refer to videoclip (optional) above: The Community’s role in the childhood obesity epidemic

Critical article reviews

Article 1

Please read the article below carefully, and respond to the following questions in 2-3 pages (double-spaced, 1” margins, Times 12-point font)


Zomeño, M.D., Lassale, C., Perez-Vega, A. et al. (2021) Halo effect of a Mediterranean-lifestyle weight-loss intervention on untreated family members’ weight and physical activity: a prospective study. Int J Obes 45, 1240–1248. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-021-00763-z


Questions:

  1. Briefly summarize the intervention: What was the study design? What was the main target population? Who were the participants and how were they identified and recruited for the intervention? If you’re describing an environmental change or a policy, define the environment and/or state the level of the policy, and discuss the rationale for targeting that particular area.
  2. What were the main outcomes of the intervention? Was the program successful in meeting intervention goals or producing changes?
  3. What do you perceive as strengths and weaknesses of the intervention for addressing obesity or eating disorders, and what might you have done differently?

Critical article reviews

Article 2

Please read the article below and answer the following question/s:


Brian Cook, Stephen A. Wonderlich, James Mitchell, Ron Thompson, Roberta Sherman, and Kimberli McCallum6 (2017) Exercise in Eating Disorders Treatment: Systematic Review and Proposal of Guidelines, Med Sci Sports Exerc. 48(7): 1408–1414, doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000912


Question/s:

  1. What are the therapeutic effects and/or guidelines for the therapeutic use of exercise in individuals with Eds?
  2. Are there any contraindications/medical concerns when adding exercise to ED therapy?

Position papers

Oral argument

Title: Obesity is a disease, not an eating disorder.

The activity includes contradictory-educational free discussions in two different directions:

a. Obesity is not an eating behavior disorder but an independent pathology

b. Obesity and eating disorders are not separate issues

The purpose of the activity is to trace the links between obesity and eating disorders through constructive discussions, free questions, and exposure of opinions.


Written report

In about 3-5 pages write a report on “Lifestyle intervention in obesity”. Bring for and against arguments. Include evidence from the materials studied in class and also include at least two recent scientific articles.

Technical requirements: use TNR 12, 1.5 space between lines, justified, equal margins 2cm, A4.


Final presentation

Make a final presentation on the „Essentials of obesity” 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.