Standard of Learning

8.3   The student will make choices that demonstrate an understanding of the relationship among nutrition and emotional and physical health. Key concepts/skills include:

1. causes and effects of compulsive behaviors such as eating disorders;
2. the relationship between personal health and cognitive performance.

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Understanding the Standard

The student will understand the physical, mental, and emotional causes and the consequences associated with eating disorders.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

The student will:

• define obsessive/compulsive disorder. (trapped in a pattern of repeated behaviors or thoughts)
• explain eating disorders. (damaging eating behaviors that may lead to sickness or even death – anorexia, bulimia, binge, or compulsive overeating, fad diets)
• list signs and symptoms of common eating disorders. (eat very little, eat unusually large amounts of food, tooth decay etc.)
• describe the physical, mental, and emotional effects of eating disorders. (health problems such as obesity, diabetes, or heart disease – guilt, shame, low self esteem, poor body image, etc.)
• explain why individuals develop eating disorders. (obsessed with being thin, may have a distorted body image, etc.)
• provide examples of other obsessive/compulsive disorders.
  

Instructional Strategies

Body Weight and Body Image Lessons for Adolescents
Grades 6-8
Multidisciplinary, interactive lessons:
--Normal Eating and Exercise
--Eating Volumetrically – Eating More for Less
--Portions Are Out of Proportion
--Food-Mood Connection
--It’s the Little Things That Count
--Barbie, Ken, and Action Toys
--Body Image Distortion
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Deptartment of Education
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/food_nutrition

Dying to be Thin Supporting Friends with Eating Disorders
Grade(s): 6-12
In this lesson, students role-play scenarios in which they encounter a friend or acquaintance who may have an eating disorder. Students brainstorm ways to help the friend. Students then create informational brochures with useful information about eating disorder prevention.
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20001121tuesday.html
Free

Eating Disorders – Five-Day Lesson Plan
Grades 7-12
Cultural basis for body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness, prejudice, and dieting
Sponsor: National Eating Disorders Association
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/p.asp?webpage_id=365&profile_id=46
+Cost

Eating Disorders in Teenagers Today
Grade(s): 7-12
This lesson will enable students to understand the complexity of eating disorders and their underlying causes, the identifiable symptoms of common eating disorders, and the resources available to teenagers that may help to prevent and/or treat eating disorders.
http://apps.caes.uga.edu/sbof/main/lessonPlan/EatingDisorders.pdf
Free

Go Girls!
Grades 7-12
Enhances girls’ self-esteem; empowers media advocacy; explores body image issues; and discusses eating disorders.
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
+Cost

Health: Eating Disorders
Grade(s): 7-9
Learn about anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, compulsive overeating, and other types of eating disorders. Find out their signs and symptoms, how they can be identified, and prevented. Includes video files, peer stories, questions and answers, quizzes, and a lesson plan. There is also a link to an eThemes resource on diet and nutrition.
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001532.shtml
Free

In the Mix: "Hearing Between The Lines"
Grade(s): 7-12
Students will listen to and read lyrics from popular songs that explore themes of self-esteem, body image, and eating disorders. The song interpretations will serve as a jumping-off point to deeper discussion on the issues, culminating in a writing exercise.
http://www.pbs.org/inthemix/educators/lessons/selfimage2/
Free

Media Influences On Nutritional Practices
Grade(s): 7-8
Students will compare specific types of media influences on nutritional practices, including specific types of nutritional quackery and peer pressure that influence teens.
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=1161
Free

Mission Nutrition
Grades 6-8
Web-based units and lesson plans covering:
--Self-esteem and body image
--Gender
--Media Awareness
--Healthy Eating (multiple lessons)
--Physical Activity
Sponsor: Dietitians of Canada and Team from Kellogg Canada, Inc.
http://www.missionnutrition.ca/missionnutriation/eng/educators
Free

Skating on Thin Ice Examining Eating Disorders and Various Means to Treat Them
Grade(s): 6-12
In this lesson, students research various eating disorders and their treatments. They then create fictional case studies of teenagers suffering from these disorders and synthesize their understanding by writing suggestions for treatment.
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/
Free

Additional Instructional Resources

• Centers for Disease Control – http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/mm.htm
• Centers for Disease Control – http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/summ.htm
• EDReferral.com
• National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders - http://www.anad.org/site/anadweb/
• National Eating Disorders Association - http://www.edap.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=337
• National Institute of Mental Health - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
• National Mental Health Association - http://www.NMHA.ORG
• NotMYkid.org
• Virginia Commission on Youth - http://coy.state.va.us/Modalities2005/contents05.htm

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

• design a brochure that explains the signs and symptoms of common eating disorders.
• discuss the relationship between self-image and obsessive compulsive behaviors.
• plan a well-balanced diet using the Food Guide Pyramid for one week that avoids the pitfalls of obsessive compulsive eating behaviors.

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