Science Café Cleveland presents
"Does the U.S. export eating disorders along with Coca-Cola and McDonald's?"
JULY 12, 2010
FEATURING:
Eileen Anderson-Fye, Ed.D. (Dept. of Anthropology, CWRU)
Lisa Damour, Ph.D. (Director of Center for Research on Girls at Laurel School; Consulting Psychologist, Laurel School, Faculty in Departments of Psychology at CWRU and John Carroll)
EVENT INFORMATION:
Many believe that the U.S. has exported thin body ideals and related eating disorders around the world, much as it has exported other products. Given that eating disorders are the most deadly of all psychiatric disorders, this claim is a serious one. The World Health Organization has flagged these disorders as an increasing problem in global mental health worldwide, particularly among adolescent girls. Such conversations occur in a context where there is a large debate about the “Americanization” of psychiatric disorder more generally.
The anthropological, psychological, and psychiatric literature on this issue show a nuanced picture of the various routes and processes by which eating disorders do and do not take hold cross-culturally. What socioeconomic conditions need to occur for eating disorders to emerge in a society? What are the socio-cultural risk factors for eating disorders within a society? How varied are body image ideals around the world, and what macro-structural factors are they dependent on? What is going on regarding males and an emergent worldwide trend toward muscular body ideals and muscularity in addition to the thin body ideal for females? How does migration place individuals at risk for body image and eating problems? What are the implications of these global trends back in the U.S.?
Come to July's Science Café Cleveland to discuss these issues and more!
USEFUL LINKS:
Read up on the issue beforehand:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=media-physiques-prompt-bo
http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=B506746A-E7F2-99DF-312F648B8A55D4A9
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=through-a-glass-darkly
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=can-you-be-too-perfect
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: July 12, 2010
Time: Drinks start at 6:30 PM, discussion starts around 7:00 PM
Location: Tasting Room, Great Lakes Brewing Company (2701 Carroll Ave, Cleveland)
Download a flyer to post at your office!
