Back
EXSC 701 - Weight Loss,
Dieting, & Eating Disorders
Professor: Wayne C. Miller, Ph.D.
Exercise Science Programs
Building K, Room 106
994-2952 e-mail: wmiller@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu
Purpose: Concepts and controversies surrounding America's obsession with body
fat, body size, and dieting will be studied. The physiological,
psychological, and social factors that predispose one to develop an
eating disorder will be evaluated. Methods for developing healthy eating
and exercise behaviors in obese, anorectic, and bulimic individuals will be
examined.
Texts: Miller, Wayne C. The Non-Diet Diet: A Simple 100-Point Scoring System
for Weight Loss Without Counting Calories. Englewood, Colorado:
Morton Publishing, 1991.
Hsu, L.K.G. Eating Disorders. New York: Gilford Publications, 1990.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of the course the student will be able to:
1. understand the epidemiology of obesity in the U.S., including how eating and
exercise behaviors affect body fat deposition.
2. understand the basic physiological principles affecting body fat deposition.
3. understand the process of diet analysis and be introduced to various
methods for self-monitoring dietary behaviors.
4. understand the social and psychological factors that predispose one to an
eating disorder, what behaviors are common to persons with eating
disorders, and how not to drive one with an eating disorder further down the
path to self-destruction.
5. demonstrate proficiency in applying theoretical knowledge to practical
situations, principally through self-prescription of a healthy eating and
exercise program.
Topical Outline:
Date Discussion topic, classwork, or assignment
5/22 Course introduction - Historical perspectives around ideal body size in
America - Weight: an Unhealthy obsession? - How obesity got such a
bad name
5/23 Prevalence of obesity in the U.S. - Obesity: a killer disease? - Good
body fat vs. Bad body fat - Thinness: a lifesaver or killer? - Ideal body
weight and/or body composition - Body composition assessment -
Economic costs of obesity - Laboratory Assignment #1: Body
Composition Assessment
5/28 The history of dieting in the U.S. - Physiological consequences of
severe caloric restriction - Diet & die! - Effectiveness of dieting on
weight loss/control
5/29 Non-Diet Diet, Chapter 1: Aerobic Exercise Prescription - Basic
Nutrition - the six nutrients - the Food Guide Pyramid
5/30 Non-Diet Diet, Chapters 2-4: Dietary Fat, Refined Sugar, & Natural
Carbohydrates - Body image disparagement - Self evaluation (body
image disparagement) - The fitness industry & body size
6/3 Video: Slim Hopes; Advertising & the Obsession with Thinness
6/4 Non-Diet Diet, Chapters 5-8: Water, Behavior, Scoring, & Monitoring
6/5 Eating Disorders, Chapter 1: Conceptualizing the Eating Disorders
- Eating disorder vs. disordered eating - Identification of compulsive
disordered eating checklist - Eating styles appraisal - Quacks & Myths
in the weight loss industry
6/6 Eating Disorders, Chapter 2: Clinical Features - E.A.T. self-evaluation - Video: The Perfect Fit
6/10 Eating Disorders, Chapter 3: Epidemiology -
6/11 Compulsive exercise and the physiological consequences - Video:
Oprah's Weight Control Struggle - Barriers to healthy weight
management self evaluation - Barriers to exercise - Laboratory
Assignment #2: Activity Monitoring
6/12 Catch up Day - Review
6/13 ***** MIDTERM *****
6/17 Eating Disorders, Chapter 4: Etiology - Eating Disorder Inventory
6/18 Non-Diet Diet, Chapters 9-14 - The Physiology of Obesity and fat
metabolism
6/19 Video: America's Diet of Danger
6/20 Eating Disorders, Chapter 5: Evaluation & Diagnosis -
6/24 The psychological aspects of obesity - Negotiated Peace - Emotional
Expression through Communication
6/25 Video: Fat Chance
6/26 Self-esteem & Self Acceptance - NAAFA - AHELP
6/27 Therapeutic Intervention for the Overweight Individual - How to achieve
Negotiated Peace
6/27 Eating Disorders, Chapter 6: Therapeutic Intervention - Therapy for
Anorexia Nervosa - Video: ABC NEWS - Hunger Inside
7/1 Therapeutical Intervention for Bulimia Nervosa
7/2 Catch up Day - Review
7/3 ***** FINAL *****
Evaluation:
Midterm 150 A, 360+
Final 150 B, ñ 320 - 359
Labs & Assignments 100 C, ñ 280 - 319
D, ñ 240 - 279
F < 240
Plus and minus grade adjustments will be made according to student attendance
and participation in class. In other words, your grade may be adjusted partially (ñ)
according to your class attendance and contribution to class discussions. At the end of
the semester, if your point score is on the borderline, it could be adjusted up or down
depending upon how actively involved you were in the class during the semester.