Ateneo - UPO

Eating disorders: clinical, antropological, sociological perspective.

Clinical aspects: Biological, clinical and psychopathological aspects of eating disorders.

Sociological Aspects:
Sociocultural analysis of food and the body; the social construction of health and illness; medicalisation and stigma; and the role of digital media and algorithms in spreading body ideals, eating practices, and discourses on well-being.

Anthropological aspects:
Introduction to cultural anthropology and environmental anthropology, with particular attention to the relationships between food, culture, and the environment.

Lecture slides and supplementary open-access materials (academic articles, reports, and book chapters), which will be uploaded to the course DIR platform.

Possible (suggested, optional) readings: books by Hilde Bruch, Vandereycken & Van Deth, papers on the topic of the course.

1. B. LATOUR, F. TRUONG, 2023, How to Inhabit the Earth: Interviews with Nicolas Truong, John Wiley ans Sonds Ltd. 2. R.W. KIMMERER, 2024, The Serviceberry: An Economy of Gifts and Abundance, Allen Lane, London. 3. R.W. KIMMERER, 2013, Braiding Sweetgrass. Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and Teachings of Plants, Penguin Random House UK. 4. A. GHOSH, 2021, The Nutmeg’s Curse. Parables for a Planet in Crisis, John Murray Publishers, London. 5. A.L. TSING, 2015, The Mushroom at the End of the World. On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruins, Princeton University Press, Princeton and Oxford.

Handouts and articles provided during class.

Gain a basic knowledge about the main eating disorders from a clinical, antropological and sociological perspective.
With more detail concerning the three modules of the course:

Gain a basic knowledge about the main eating disorders from a clinical, and etiological perspective. Be able to apply this knowledge, gaining awareness of what represents an at risk situation and what represents an appropriate referral and treatment for patients.

Teaching/module Sociology:
• Provide students with theoretical and analytical tools to deconstruct common-sense beliefs about the body, food, nutrition, appetite, and lifestyles. • Develop the ability to analyse eating disorders and obesity also as socially constructed phenomena, with particular attention to processes of medicalisation, individualisation of responsibility, and stigmatisation. • Critically examine the role of the media, digital platforms, and algorithms in the dissemination of body ideals, models of health, eating practices, and discourses on well-being. • Develop the ability to conduct a structured sociological analysis of digital content and environments relating to the body, food, and nutrition. • Promote the ability to interpret and communicate analytical findings using sociological concepts and to develop social media literacy proposals aimed at preventing stigma and fostering inclusive representations of health and bodies.

Teaching/module Anthropology aims for -Knowledge and understanding of the basic concepts and tools of cultural anthropology -Awareness of diverse worldviews and the ability to step back from ethnocentric bias -Critical thinking skills required to deconstruct stereotypes related to the concepts of "nature" and "culture" -In-depth understanding of the connections between cultural anthropology, ecological issues and food production/consumption -Ability to discuss course topics orally using appropriate vocabulary

A good knowledge and understanding of English + Standard study and comprehension skills expected at a university-level diploma.

Lessons, laboratories, workshops, case studies, simulation labs.

With more detail, for the anthropology module: The course consists of 24 hours of teaching. Lectures will be supported by PowerPoint slides, audiovisual materials, and various active learning methods. The course will be divided into two parts: 1. a general introduction to cultural anthropology and the anthropological concept of culture; 2. a second part of environmental anthropology with a specific focus on the production, distribution and consumption of food. Several case studies will be explored and discussed in class. Since the course follows a progressive learning path and relies on participatory teaching methods, regular attendance from start to finish is essential. Students are expected to be punctual and to participate throughout the entire class. Attending all classes is strongly recommended. Students must enroll on the DIR platform (www.dir.uniupo.it) to access course materials and announcements.

Sociology module: Lectures, collective discussion of scientific texts and case studies, guided analysis of digital content, laboratory sessions, group work, and project presentations.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services students-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the professor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.   

The exam involves a collegial assessment by the teachers of the 3 modules that make up the integrated course, starting from the outcome of the tests for each module.
To be eligible for the exam, students must have attended at least 50% of the classes in each of the three courses comprising the integrated course. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the need to retake the course in the following academic year. A single exception will be made for students with serious, documented health issues. Such students must contact the instructors and the Master’s degree coordinator. They will be admitted to the exam ONLY IF their reasons are deemed valid and adequate proof is provided. However, they will be required to study additional teaching materials specified by the instructors.

For the clinical part, the exam is written with open questions; 1 hour.
For the sociological part: Learning will be assessed through a one-hour written examination consisting of open-ended questions. Admission to the final examination requires attendance at at least 50% of the module classes.

Antropology: ORAL EXAM. Students will be asked a flexible number of questions depending on their responses. They must demonstrate that they have thoroughly studied and critically integrated the course content, while using appropriate academic terminology.

The evaluation will take into consideration the degree of mastery, knowledge and understanding of the topics covered, the ability and clarity of presentation.

A good knowledge of the subject will correspond to the maximum grade in each module, with grades scaling based on the accuracy and level of depth of knowledge.

The course is articulated in 3 parts, dealing with the following topics. Each topic will be addressed from a gender perspective, in particular with regard to eating disorders in the context of psychiatry, where the gender-specific dimension is implicit in the diagnosis.

Clinical part about Eating disorders: overview; food, body shape and their meaning in
different socio-cultural contexts; historical perspective; body image;
epidemiology; diagnostic criteria; clinical features: symptoms and
complications; treatment approaches.

Sociological part:
• Lesson 1: Food, the body, and lifestyles as social phenomena • Lesson 2: Health, illness, medicalisation, and stigma • Lesson 3: Media, digital platforms, and representations of the body and food • Lesson 4: Introduction to the sociological audit of digital content • Lesson 5: Analysis workshop: methodological and theoretical introduction • Lesson 6: Sociological interpretation and preparation of group presentations • Lesson 7: Presentation and discussion of group projects (Part I) • Lesson 8: Presentation and discussion of group projects (Part II) and final synthesis

Anthropological part:
The course is structured as follows: - Overview of the innovative approach offered throughout the course regarding eating disorders from a socio-anthropological perspective, analysing the complex interrelationships between food, culture, and the environment. - Introduction to the history of the concept of culture. Anthropological and ethological definitions of culture. Critical use of the concept of culture. - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. Definition of key concepts and tools: ethnography, holism, anthropocentrism, anthropomorphism, reification, cultural relativism, ethnocentrism, and racism. - A brief overview of the relationship between culture and science. - Introduction to Environmental Anthropology and critical analysis of the nature/culture dichotomy. Introduction to the concept of sustainability and the socio-cultural dimensions of the "Anthropocene". Brief study of indigenous ecologies. - In-depth analysis of the relationship between food and culture, and presentation of the assigned course readings on food, culture, and the environment. - Integration of the gender dimension in course content: approaches to grant equal benefits in actions and activities for women and men and for eliminating gender inequalities.

Gain a basic knowledge about the main eating disorders from a clinical,
antropological and sociological perspective.

Clinical part:
Gain a basic knowledge about the main eating disorders from a clinical, and etiological perspective. Be able to apply this knowledge, gaining awareness of what represents an at risk situation and what represents an appropriate referral and treatment for patients.

Sociological part:
• Knowledge and understanding: Critical understanding of sociological theories applied to food, illness, and the impact of the media. • Applying knowledge and understanding: Ability to apply sociological concepts and tools to the structured analysis of digital content and to assess possible social media literacy interventions. • Making judgements: Ability to identify and critically assess normative representations of the body, forms of stigma, individualisation of responsibility, commercial interests, and exclusions in media content. • Communication skills: Ability to present and discuss, clearly, sensitively, and on a sound scientific basis, the findings of a sociological analysis concerning the body, food, and eating disorders. • Learning skills: Development of independent study skills for locating, interpreting, and synthesising scientific literature on eating disorders and the sociology of food.

Anthropological part:
- To develop a solid understanding of key concepts and methodologies in cultural anthropology. - To develop a critical awareness of the human/nature dichotomy. - To develop a solid capacity for critical analysis of food from a sociocultural perspective. - To demonstrate a thorough reading and understanding of the study materials. - To know and use appropriate terminology.