Bridging the prevention gap: prevention programs and shared risk factors for obesity, eating disorders, and disordered eating

Hemendinger, Emily (2015) Bridging the prevention gap: prevention programs and shared risk factors for obesity, eating disorders, and disordered eating. Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.

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Abstract

Obesity is an ever-growing problem in America that places a heavy burden on our healthcare system and causes many health problems. Eating disorders, while not affecting as large a proportion of the population as obesity, are the most deadly psychiatric illness and also place a heavy burden on our healthcare system. Obesity and eating disorders are typically treated as separate issues. Obesity is primarily a physical condition, while eating disorders are a physical and psychological condition. However, a growing amount of research has shown that there are links between obesity and eating disorders and that prevention interventions that target both have the possibility of being more helpful than separate prevention efforts. Furthermore, obesity and eating disorders have also been linked to disordered eating behaviors, such as excessive dieting and fasting, using laxatives, purging, and weight cycling. Therefore the purpose of this paper is to show that similarities between obesity and eating disorders/disordered eating exist and how focusing on shared risk factors will facilitate prevention efforts. This manuscript is divided into two main sections. Part I presents an overview of obesity, eating disorders, disordered eating, and where these issues intersect. This section also provides a theoretical background for understanding these issues and their prevention approaches. For the second part of this paper a critical literature synthesis on prevention approaches and methods was done using PubMed and Google Scholar. After articles were collected and analyzed, a comprehensive review of recent literature on obesity prevention, eating disorder/disordered eating prevention, and combined prevention efforts was done. This paper serves as a means of bringing to light the necessity of treating obesity, eating disorders, and disordered eating as issues on a weight-related spectrum. The literature synthesis can be used to guide public health officials in creating and implementing prevention programs that address the shared risk factors for obesity and eating disorders/disordered eating.

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Details

Item Type:	Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper (Master Essay)
Status:	Unpublished
Creators/Authors:	Creators Email Pitt Username ORCID Hemendinger, Emily ekh22@pitt.edu EKH22
Contributors:	Contribution Contributors Name Email Pitt Username ORCID Committee Chair Friedman, Mark S. msf11@pitt.edu MSF11 UNSPECIFIED Committee Member Ewing, Linda J. ewingLJ@upmc.edu UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
Date:	22 April 2015
Date Type:	Publication
Access Restriction:	No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Publisher:	University of Pittsburgh
Institution:	University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs:	School of Public Health > Behavioral and Community Health Sciences
Degree:	MPH - Master of Public Health
Thesis Type:	Master Essay
Refereed:	Yes
Date Deposited:	29 Oct 2015 14:20
Last Modified:	31 Jul 2020 19:08
URI:	http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24579

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