COMS 2050 Group 2 - Final Portfolio

1. C
The prevalence of
eating disorders in the
United States
Presented by Sarah Andrews, Ashley Jones, Mollie Sheehan & Courtney Smith

2. Table of Contents
• Executive Summary
• Milestones 1 – 8
• List of Topics
• Finalized Topics
• Research on Topic
• Problem Analysis
• Decision Criteria
• Brainstorm Solutions
• Analyze Solutions
• Choose a Solution
• Group Correspondence
• Reflection
"Anorexia case-1900-Nouvelle icononographie de la Salpetriere" by Georges Gasne (his position being "chef the clinique de la Salpêtrière" at publication) - http://jubil.upmc.fr/sdx/pl/toc.xsp?id=CS_000013_013&qid=sdx_q0&fmt=upmc&idtoc=CS_000013_013-pleadetoc&base=fa&n=13&ss=true&as=&ai=. Via Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Anorexia_case-1900-Nouvelle_icononographie_de_la_Salpetriere.jpg#/media/File:Anorexia_case-1900-
Nouvelle_icononographie_de_la_Salpetriere.jpg

3. Executive Summary
In the beginning, our group had sixteen possible topics, but we narrowed them down to just four for milestone one. We
agreed as a group that we wanted to learn more about eating disorders – specifically in the United States, and so we chose that as
our final topic in milestone two. We did a lot of research on the topic for milestone three and found that eating disorders are more
likely to affect women than men. We learned that eating disorders in the United States affect women (as well as men) of every race,
age and walk of life. For milestone four, our group analyzed the problem in more depth and learned that eating disorders aren’t
always about food and appearance – sometimes they are about deeper issues linked to control and abuse. We also realized that
eating disorders have a very long history, but they have only recently (in the last century) been recognized as an illness.
For milestone five, our group began to prepare for possible solutions by creating decision criteria. It was important to our
group that all possible solutions consider the greatest number of those involved, be legal and within moral reason, and respect an
individual’s basic human rights. We also agreed that eating disorders, based on the research we did, are not curable and therefore
any solution we came up with would need to be flexible and enduring. Some of the solutions we came up with for milestone six were
to avoid criticizing others, know when to admit that one has a problem, change through mass media and education as a solution. All
four of those solutions met with our decision criteria in milestone seven, but we decided for milestone eight that we would go with
education as our solution.

4. Milestone One – List of Topics
Originally our group came up with
sixteen possible topics, but we worked
together and narrowed them down to
these four:
• The affects of bullying on adolescents
• Animal Cruelty
• Tobacco usage disagreements on college
campuses
• The Prevalence of eating disorders in the
United States
http://mrg.bz/Tee2dZ

5. Milestone Two – Finalized Topic
• There is a large prevalence of eating disorders
among women in the United States.
• We chose eating disorders as our final topic
because it is something we feel is an ongoing
issue in our society. The feedback from our
group members was very enthusiastic
surrounding this topic and all members
appeared to be interested in working on it
together. We also felt that this is an issue that
we would enjoy working on finding a solution
for, or rather finding a plan for improvement.
http://mrg.bz/fHo09l

6. Milestone Three – Research on Topic
No matter your race, ethnicity, age or culture – eating disorders are extremely common
amongst women in today’s society. The six sources listed on the next slide all share common
information regarding the problem, and the bottom line is that the problem doesn’t discriminate.
The following sources dive deeper into the matters surrounding eating disorders. Depression, social
disorder, family issues, and trauma are just some of the issues discussed alongside eating disorders.
There are many psychological factors involved with eating disorders, and it is crucial as a society
we are aware and educated of what nearly half of all women today are going through.

7. Milestone Three – Research on Topic
(References)
• (2010, September 22.) Body Image. Eating Disorders.
Retrieved from http://www.womenshealth.gov/body-image/eating-disorders/index.html
• Haines, S. Eating Disorders among College Students.
Retrieved from http://www.waldencenter.org/popular-searches/eating-disorders-among-college-students/
• (2014, May 7.) Eating Disorders: General Information.
Retrieved from http://youngwomenshealth.org/2012/04/11/eating-disorders/
• Borchard, T. ( 2013.) Eating Disorders Spike Among Middle-Aged and Older Women. Psych Central.
Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/lib/eating-disorders-spike-among-middle-aged-and-older-women/
• Reichard, R. (2015, February 15.) 7 Ways the Media's Depiction of Eating Disorders Failed Me As a Woman of Color.
Retrieved from http://mic.com/articles/111176/7-ways-the-media-s-depiction-of-eating-disorders-completely-fails-
women-of-color
• (2015 February 14.) Diseases and Conditions: Eating disorders.
Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eating-disorders/basics/symptoms/con-20033575

8. Milestone Four – Problem Analysis
Eating Disorders cause extreme emotions and behaviors, and often cause life time threatening illnesses for females and
males. Our environment, culture, genetics, and psychology are the common factors that contribute to an individual that has an
eating disorder. Society’s standards, media’s motivation on thinness, and a heightened importance on appearance, are all
environmental factors that lead to complex eating behaviors. Genetics have a substantial contribution and may pre dispose
individuals to eating disorders; many do not choose to have an eating disorder. (Lifeline, 2015.)
Self-esteem issues, hopelessness, impulsivity, and anxiety, are what we as a society, associate with an eating disorder. The
problem that needs to be stressed is that an eating disorder doesn’t always necessarily mean there is an issue with food. It is a coping
method and an outlet for an individual that has trouble handling their real mental health issue. They feel binge eating and/or
throwing up is a comfort and rely on that feeling to justify for their inner problem. Support groups and hotlines are available for not
only the suffering individual, but their family members who are actively involved.

9. Milestone Four – Problem Analysis
(continued)
There are many different stakeholders involved in the
prevalence of eating disorders in the United States. These
stakeholders include specific organizations and institutions involved
in defeating and easing the strain of this disorder but they generally
include hospitals, schools, psychological services, and everyone in
society in a way. As a society, eating disorders are sometimes
viewed as a deficiency or shameful. Generally speaking, most of
the stakeholders in the prevalence of eating disorders view
society’s representation of the “ideal body” as the root of eating
disorders combined with different psychological factors.
"Corset1878taille46 300gram" by Anonymous - second-hand source: Le Corset by Libron. 1933. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Corset1878taille46_300gram.png#/media/File:Corset1878taille46_300gram.png

10. Milestone Four – Problem Analysis
(History)
In 1873 a personal physician to Queen Victoria, Sir William Gull, coined the term anorexia nervosa when he published a
paper on the subject. Having Greek origin, the term anorexia nervosa translates to a nervous loss of appetite, which has since been
determined as inaccurate in relation to the illness. The earliest proposed examples of anorexia are seen in the religious fasting that
exclusively women and young girls would undergo during the Hellenistic through Medieval periods for purification. This form of
anorexia has also been termed anorexia mirabilis, a term that translates to miraculous lack of appetite and is disputed in its
correlation to anorexia nervosa by some religious entities and medical professionals. The earliest accepted work in anorexia nervosa
however is by the physician Richard Morton, who in 1689 published a paper detailing a number of illness that were at the time
otherwise ignored by doctors despite contributing to over 18% of deaths in London. The paper recognized an illness then known as
the wasting condition, which would later be named anorexia nervosa by Sir William Gull.

11. Milestone Four – Problem Analysis
(History - continued)
Anorexia nervosa is just one facet under the complex umbrella of eating disorders. Bulimia nervosa is anorexia’s sister and
ties as the top eating disorders within the variety of related illnesses. Characterized as a binge / purge process, bulimia nervosa was
first recognized in 1979. Despite its more recent recognition, the behavior is thought to have been an element in many ancient
cultures as well. One such example is found in ancient Egyptian culture where the practice of purging was considered part of a
balanced health routine and recommended once a month for three days. Ancient Romans of elite status also practiced purging
before banquet parties where large amounts of food would be consumed.
http://mrg.bz/BiTY6G

12. Milestone Four – Problem Analysis
(References)
• Espi Forcen F (2013). “Anorexia mirabilis: the practice of fasting by Saint Catherine of Siena in the late Middle Ages”. Am J
Psychiatry 170 (4): 370-1.
• Gull WW (1997). “Anorexia nervosa (apepsia hysterica, anorexia hysterica). 1868”. Obesity Research 5 (5): 498-502.
• Harris JC (2014). “Anorexia nervosa and anorexia mirabilis: Miss K. R—and St Catherine of Siena”. JAMA Psychiatry 71 (11):
1212-3.
• Klein DA, Walsh BT (2004). “Eating disorders: clinical features and pathophysiology”. Physiol Behav. 81 (2): 359-74.
• Pearce JM (2004). “Richard Morton: Origins of Anorexia nervosa”. European Neurology 52 (4): 191-192.
• Russell, G. (1997). The history of bulimia nervosa. D. Garner & P. Garfinkel (Eds.), Handbook of Treatment for Eating
Disorders (2nd ed., pp. 11-24). New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
• (2014, May 7.) Eating Disorders: General Information.
Retrieved from http://youngwomenshealth.org/2012/04/11/eating-disorders/
• (2010, September 22.) Body Image. Eating Disorders.
Retrieved from http://www.womenshealth.gov/body-image/eating-disorders/index.html

13. Milestone Five – Decision Criteria
• Solutions to the problem must consider all
involved and attempt to satisfy the greatest
number of those involved.
• Solutions to the problem must be legal and
within moral reason.
• Solutions to the problem may not impede on
an individual’s basic human rights.
• Understanding the problem (eating disorders) is
not a curable illness, the solution to the
problem may not necessarily be an end-all
solution to the problem, so the solution must be
flexible and one that is enduring.

14. Milestone Six – Brainstorm Solutions
• Avoid criticizing others' food choices and diet patterns. If
you are concerned with a friend or family member's diet,
focus on encouraging healthy habits such as choosing
foods with a high nutritional value and adequate portion
sizes rather than directly addressing the person's problem.
• Mass media (and entities like the fashion industry) on an
international level should take a look at France’s recent
move toward addressing their role in eating disorders.
Media intentionally aims to sway public opinion on matters
and has an ethical responsibility in the messages it spreads.
Recognizing this factor, the media could take great strides
in redefining acceptable body image, especially for
women and young girls.
• Admitting one has a problem as well as knowing how to
ask for help. If the person is unable to recognize their
problem then they won't be able to effectively receive
treatment. By admitting they have a problem then they will
be more motivated to ask for help.
• Education as a solution - all-encompassing in a variety of
solutions. By proposing that we implement required
curriculum in high schools and colleges (like in Health Ed
classes), it would gain media attention and help students
(young and old) understand the prevention and treatment
of eating disorders. It would build general public awareness
and overtime change society’s opinion on the matter.
Recovering women (and men) that have dealt and coped
with an eating disorder could also give seminars at schools.

15. Milestone Seven – Analyze Solutions
We considered all four of our possible solutions against our decision criteria and found
that all the solutions were in keeping with our set guidelines.
Considers
all involved
Legal and
within moral
reason
Respects
basic
human
rights
Flexible and
enduring

16. Milestone Eight – Choose a Solution
• We choose education as a solution to the social issue of eating disorders. Our plan is to implement preventative information about
eating disorders in public schools and colleges as part of the required curriculum.
• We feel that this solution is the best choice because it is all-encompassing in all of our solutions. Education is something that can
reach people of all ages, across a variety of walks of life. Through education, we can target young women and men at a crucial
age when they are most at risk of developing an eating disorder. Equipping the public with more information about eating
disorders will aid individuals in determining whether or not their loved ones have an eating disorder, and how to handle the illness
when they are able to confirm it. Education will provide a general awareness of eating disorders associated with a negative
attachment, which may help eradicate the issue from our culture.
• In order to create awareness and implement education around eating disorders, we feel it would be an asset to have guest
speakers who have suffered from this disease at schools, starting in Junior High. Schools will be provided with detailed curriculum
regarding the dissemination of information about eating disorders. Students will be taught why it is important to steer clear of
eating disorders, that thinness is not above health, how to spot eating disorders in their loved ones and how to handle it when they
know someone is suffering (how to get them help and how not to make the situation worse).

17. Group Correspondence
• Our group chose to communicate outside of blackboard on Facebook. We created a
group page that was closed to Ohio University students only and there is where we
discussed the details of each milestone. Below are some examples of our dialogue.

18. Reflection
As it was said at the beginning of this course, we live our lives in groups. We find ourselves in groups everywhere we turn
from our family and friends to our coworkers and classmates. Sometimes communicating in groups can be difficult, but it can also be
very rewarding. This course has taught us many things from what a group looks like to how to communicate effectively. We’ve also
learned what to do when the group we are in is faced with conflict.
The groups we were put in for this course were small, but we faced big challenges. First and foremost, we didn’t know
each other before this course, we are all in different locations and we never met in person. Through the use of blackboard, email and
social networking tools, the members of our group learned to fulfill their roles. We took this project on, one step at a time and seen it
through until we had this – our finished product. Through hard work, dedication and effective communication, we took on a topic we
didn’t know that much about. We learned as much as we could and we found what we believe to be the best possible solution to
the problem.