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Course Syllabus

HFST 1260 Weight Control and Eating Behaviors

  • Division: Social and Behavioral Science
  • Department: Education and Family Studies
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 2; Lecture: 2; Lab: 0
  • Repeatable: Yes.
  • Prerequisites: N/A
  • Corequisites: N/A
  • Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
  • Semester Approved: Spring 2023
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2028
  • End Semester: Fall 2028
  • Optimum Class Size: 35
  • Maximum Class Size: 40

Course Description

This class provides students with information and experience to evaluate positive and negative behaviors and beliefs regarding food, eating, weight, and body image. Principles of good nutrition and eating habits are especially applied to contemporary problems of weight control, eating disorders and body image as they appy to lifespan development. The course provides introductory-level information to majors as well as help to those interested in the subject matter.

Justification

This elective course is designed to provide a basic understanding of contemporary food/eating and body/weight issues. It provides introductory-level information to majors as well as help to those affected. This course is recommended for Family and Consumer Science Education and Nutrition majors. This course is also open to all interested students. Students with a specific need or interest relating to eating disorders are sometimes referred to the course through the Wellness Center.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will understand the impact of positive and negative body image and strategies to change negative image.
  2. Students will gain understanding of eating disorder types, as well as biological, social and genetic influences, and medical dangers.
  3. Students will understand the belief-feeling-behavior pedagogy as it relates to eating disorders, obesity, and body image perspectives.
  4. Students will understand basic, healthy behaviors including habitual exercise, common-sense eating, healthy food choices, knowledge of preservatives and processed food, and the positive outcomes of a health-driven lifestyle. Understanding will come through exposure to current topical readings, course materials, and multi-media resources.

Course Content

Students will explore contemporary issues of food/eating and weight/body with regards to different cultures and various body types. The content of the course is outlined below: I. Rules of Normal Eating• Rules of Change• Connecting Beliefs, Feelings and Behaviors• Rational vs. Irrational BeliefsII. Disordered Eating• Definitions and Influential Factors of Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating Disorder• Underlying Issues, Triggers, Irrational Behavior Reaction• Medical Dangers of Eating Disorders, Treatment Approaches• ObesityIII. Nutritional Needs• Emotional Eating• Daunting Eating SituationsIV. Self-Care • Self-Esteem Across the Lifespan • Body Image • Body Image History • Body Acceptance • Learning to Love Your Body • What a Body is For • Reflections on Learning