ND 544 - Obesity and Eating Disorders
2023 Summer Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 10864
Course Information
You are responsible for knowing this material, so please read carefully. Any changes will be announced in a Blackboard Announcement. You will be responsible for any changes. Your continued enrollment in this course is your implicit agreement to abide by the requirements of this class.
Times and Location
Live class meetings on 5.31 and 7.19 from 5-7 PM Central Time
Instructor Information
Anne Bodensteiner, Ph.D., RDN, LRD, NBC-HWC
Clinical Assistant Professor and Program Director
Email: anne.bodensteiner@und.edu
Office: Online
2023 Summer Office Hours:
Schedule through Starfish - link posted in Blackboard.
About the Professor
I am the nutrition graduate program director and teach many of our graduate courses at UND. In my previous work I have coached people 1:1 on their genetics associated with nutrition, weight management, and have worked in health education and promotion. I am excited to share this knowledge with you. My life exists online as I am a distance faculty member. I prefer to be called Anne, Dr. Bodensteiner, or Dr. Anne.
Check out the “About me video” in week 1 materials
Course Description
Learning Outcomes
After successfully completing this course, you should be able to:
- Articulate the impact of media, society, and weight bias on eating disorders, obesity, and quality of life
- Identify factors associated with obesity
- Support treatment efforts that align with the goals of a patient or client
- Differentiate the epidemiology and etiology of eating disorders
Course Materials
Brownell, K.D., and Walsh, B. T. (2017). Eating disorders and obesity: A comprehensive handbook. Ed. 3. The Guildford Press, New York: NY.
ISBN: 9781462536092.
Additional readings consisting of current peer-reviewed journal articles and other materials relevant to course topics may be assigned (these will be provided to students on the course website).
Technical Requirements/Assistance
Whether you’re taking courses in the classroom or online, it’s important to have the right technology and equipment. Visit the UND Technical Requirements webpage for more information. Students are expected to use their official UND email in the course. For technical assistance, please contact UND Technical Support at 701.777.2222. Visit the University Information Technologies (UIT) website for their hours, help documents and other resources.
Minimum Technical Skills Needed
In order to succeed in this course, at a minimum, you should be able to:
- Navigate in and use basic Blackboard functions
- Download and open electronic documents
- Create, save, and upload/attach electronic documents
- Send, receive, and manage email
- Have a camera and microphone on your computer to participate in class and create presentations
Course Logistics
Access and Log in Information
This course was developed and will be facilitated utilizing Blackboard. To get started with the course, please go to: http://blackboard.UND.edu and log in with your NDUS.Identifier, Username and Password. If you do not know your NDUS Identifier or have forgotten your password, please visit Your NDUS Account page on the UIT website.
Course Overview
This course is organized into 12 weeks. Each week will have a folder in Blackboard under “Weekly Content and Assignments” and will contain a variety of links to the required readings, videos, lectures, and assignments. Class meetings, journals, partner discussions, and other assignments will be used to assess your comprehension and completion of the course objectives. New content will be posted at least one week in advance of any assignment this is due.
To get the most from your experience, I recommend that you consider the following:
- Review the syllabus and course schedule posted in Blackboard
- Organize your schedule and make note of important due dates
- Create a habit for your learning. Online courses require higher levels of self-direction and creating a schedule can be helpful for students
- Email Anne with questions or concerns as they come up
- Participate fully and in a timely manner to get the benefit of learning from your peers and instructor
Resources
Many services are available to UND students such as writing assistance from the UND Writing Center, free online tutoring from Smarthinking, and more. Visit the Student Resources page for more information. Students also have access to the UND Student Resource Site via Blackboard. It is recommended that you become familiar with the tools and tutorials within the site to better equip you in navigating the course.
Course Requirements/Expectations
Student Expectations:
- The student will review the syllabus and course schedule posted in Blackboard.
- The student will access and follow all course instructions found in the weekly area of the Blackboard course.
- The student will participate in any lecture or discussion sessions on campus or online as provided and as part of this course.
- The student will complete and submit assignments, exams, quizzes, etc. by the dated noted and in the manner described in Blackboard and on the course schedule. We will use Central Standard Time for due dates and times.
- The student will participate fully and in a timely manner to get the benefit of learning from instructor and/or peers.
- Use respectful language when communicating with the instructor and peers.
- Submit assignments on time (see policy on late assignments).
- Ask questions about materials/information that is not clear.
- Use UND email and check it regularly
Instructor Responsibilities and Feedback
The instructor is expected to:
- Use respectful language when communicating with students
- Respond to questions/emails/phone calls within 48 hours on the weekday/business days
- Provide multiple methods/modes of learning and assessment
- Review feedback from course evaluations to make changes/improvements to the course
- Provide resources as needed to support your individual learning needs
- Provide meaningful and useful feedback to improve your learning in graduate school
- Provide feedback on assignments within 1-2 weeks of submission (1 week for shorter work and allow 2 weeks for final projects/papers)
Communication
Announcements
Announcements will be posted in Blackboard on a regular basis. Be sure to check the class announcements regularly as they will contain important information about class assignments and other class matters.
I welcome your questions with phone calls or email and we can set up a scheduled time to talk as well! I will respond back to you within 48 hours during the week and may not respond on the weekend/Holidays until the next business day.
Course Etiquette
When participating in class (online or in person) it is important to interact with your peers in an appropriate manner. Always use professional language (no netspeak) in your postings and emails. Please be respectful of your classmates at all times even if you disagree with their ideas.
Assessments
Discussion (43%)
Weekly Lecture Comments60
Each week you will make 3-5 comments in the lectures. To count toward your 5 points these comments must add to the material in the lecture, ask a question for clarification, or to add to another classmates comments. Comments that do not count toward the five points would be: thanks for posting, I agree, good point, etc. The purpose of these comments is to help you analyze the content, keep you up to date on the course material, and allow you to learn from your classmates.
Participation (4%)
Class Meeting Prep10
We have two scheduled times to meet through Zoom this semester. It is critical that you come prepared for our class sessions and discussion. A week before we meet, the required prep materials will be posted in Blackboard, along with the link for our meeting session. Please be prepared with your web cam and microphone to participate in these discussions.
Discussion (43%)
Partner Discussions40
Your classmates are a wealth of information and have a broad range of experiences. In graduate school it is important to hear from and interact with others. You will utilize Zoom to meet with your team and together discuss the required content and submit (as a team) your prep work, the recap of your discussion, and/or a mini-assignment. The requirements for each partner discussion will be posted in Blackboard.
Journals (17%)
Journals40
The purpose of the journals is to provide an opportunity for individual reflection on the material. Taking time to examine and internalize new information is important for adult learners. Each journal will have a unique task and will be worth 10 points. Journal instructions will be posted at least one week before the due date.
Paper (26%)
Microtheme30
You will submit a short 300-word analysis on one clinical treatment option for obesity. If you are pursuing the CNS or the RDN you may write about the MNT care process for bariatric surgery.
Think Piece30
Choose two of the defined eating disorders and submit a 2-3 page comparison between those two diagnoses. How are they alike and different in their etiology and treatment?
Presentation (11%)
Presentation25
For the presentation you will select one topic on obesity and eating disorders to create and record a 5-8 minute presentation. This could be a specific gene, a particular treatment option, or a specific approach to addressing eating disorders or obesity. You will need to narrow and focus because 8 minutes goes by quickly! A rubric and instructions will be available on Blackboard.
Assessment Summary
Assignment Points
- Weekly Lecture Comments (12 @ 5 pts each) 60 Points
- Partner Discussions (2 @ 20 pts each) 40 Points
- Class Preparation (2 @ 5 pts each) 10 Points
- Journals (4 @ 10 pts each) 40 Points
- Microtheme 30 Points
- Think Piece 30 Points
- Presentation 25 Points
Total: 235 Points
Final Grade Scale
> 90% A
80-89% B
70-79% C
60-69% D
< 60% F
Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s): | Agenda/Topic: | Due: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/17 | Weight Media & Weight Bias | Lecture Comments DUE 5.18 | |
| 5/24 | Socioeconomic & Social/Society factors on Body Weight | Lecture Comments DUE 5.25 Journal #1 DUE 5.25 |
|
| 5/31 | Body Weight Regulation | Class Prep DUE 5.31 before 5 PM Class Meeting 5.31 Lecture Comments DUE 6.1 |
|
| 6/7 | Body Weight Regulation | Lecture Comments DUE 6.8 | |
| 6/14 | Clinical Characteristics of Obesity Obesity Treatment |
Journal #2 DUE 6.15 Lecture Comments DUE 6.15 Partner Discussion #1 DUE 6.15 |
|
| 6/21 | Obesity Treatment Cont. | Lecture Comments DUE 6.22 Microtheme DUE 6.22 |
|
| 6/28 | Pharmacological & Surgical Treatment for Obesity | Journal #3 DUE 6.29 Lecture Comments DUE 6.29 |
|
| 7/5 | Obesity Prevention & Policy | Partner Discussion #2 DUE 7.6 Lecture Comments DUE 7.6 |
|
| 7/12 | Eating Disorders | Lecture Comments DUE 7.13 Think Piece DUE 7.13 |
|
| 7/19 | ED ED ED |
Class Prep DUE 7.19 before 5 PM Class Meeting 7.19 Lecture Comments DUE 7.20 Lecture Comments DUE 7.27 Presentation DUE 7.27 Lecture Comments DUE 8.3 Journal #4 DUE 8.3 |
Appendix
This is a place to add things like resources, rubrics, etc.
Course Policies
Late Work
You are expected to complete assignments at the designated due dates and times. If you are unable to complete the assignments at the time indicated on the syllabus, you must contact the instructor prior to the due date and provide a new due date that fits your needs. The instructor will respond and agree or offer a different date for submission. If you do not connect prior to the due date with the instructor, 15% will be taken off the assignment everyday it is late. Students are responsible for due dates listed in the syllabus.
Please note: You do not need to disclose or perform trauma when asking for an extension; you just need to let us know (very broadly) that you need help, and we will do what we can to get you back on track in the course.
Assignment Format and Submission
All assignments, citations, references, paper format, and submission need to follow APA format style.
All assignments must be submitted via Blackboard unless approved otherwise. Assignments will be due on Thursday’s before midnight. See schedule for exact due dates. For consistency all times referred in this course will be central time zone.
Incompletes
It is expected that students will complete all requirements for a course during the time frame of the course. For reasons beyond a student’s control, and upon request by the student or on behalf of the student, an incomplete grade may be assigned by the instructor when there is reasonable certainty the student will successfully complete the course without retaking it. The mark “I,” Incomplete, will be assigned only to the student who has been in attendance and has done satisfactory work up to a time within four weeks of the close of the semester, including the examination period, and whose work is incomplete for reasons satisfactory to his or her instructor. More information regarding UND’s Incomplete policy can be found on The Grading System webpage.
Resolution of Problems
Should a problem occur, you should speak to your instructor first. If the problem is not resolved, meet with Dr. Desiree Tande (department Chair). If the problem continues to be unresolved, the next step will be to the college dean. Should the problem persist, you have the right to go to the provost next, and then to the president.
Netiquette
When participating in class (online or in person) it is important to interact with your peers in an appropriate manner. Netiquette is a set of rules for behaving properly online. Here are a few basic points to remember when communicating in this course:
Be scholarly. Use proper language, grammar, and spelling. Explain your thoughts, justify opinions, and credit the ideas of others by citing scholarly resources. Avoid misinforming others when you are unsure of the answer. When discussing something and supplying a guess, clearly state that.
Be respectful. Respect the privacy of others. Do not share personal or professional information about others unless permission has been granted. Respect diversity and opinions that differ from their own. Be tactful when you communicate.
Be professional. Everyone should strive to give their best impression online. Truthfulness, accuracy, and running a final spell check are appropriate expectations for university students. Writing in a legible font and limiting the use of emoticons is considered professional behavior. Profanity and participation in hostile interactions, known as flaming, is unprofessional as well as disruptive.
Be polite. Students should address professors and instructors by the appropriate title or requested name. Students should interact online politely, just as they would be expected to do in a physical environment. Sarcasm, rudeness, and writing in all capital letters (shouting) should be avoided.
Pronouns
Everyone has the right to be addressed by the name and personal pronouns that correspond to their gender identity, including non-binary pronouns, for example: they/them/theirs, ze/zir/zirs, etc.
I recognize that preferred names and pronouns may change during the quarter, if at any point during the quarter you would like to be addressed differently, please let me know.
As part of our commitment to inclusion in this course, it is important that all students in this class respect the preferred names and pronouns of their peers. Mistakes in addressing one another may happen. If you make a mistake or are corrected, please briefly apologize and correct yourself.
Technology Statement
In this class we will have a technology policy that is designed to support your attention to one another and to the course material. We will spend the majority of our time engaged in activities that depend upon you being present and attentive to one another, and course content we will study. We are all challenged these days by the ways in which our digital devices—including laptops, tablets, phones, and watches—can steal our attention away from our immediate surroundings. Technology should be used for educational purposes only during scheduled class times.
Collaboration and Recording (For Online, Hybrid, Hyflex courses)
Sharing personal experiences and opinions is an important part of the learning process. In the (hybrid, hyflex, synchronous, etc.) environment of this course, all of our interactions are recorded (via Zoom, Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, Yuja, etc) and made available to students in the course. The purpose of these recordings is to enhance learning for all students. If your peers make personal statements in this course, consider those comments in the context of our learning goals and do not share them with people outside the course. If you have questions or concerns about any recordings, please contact me.
College/Department Policies
In addition to Course and University Policies, the Colleges and/or Departments may have some of their own. Please edit this section to add any polices for your college or department. This could include things like mission statements, professional standards, ethical statements, etc.
University of North Dakota Policies & Resources
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a serious matter, and any deviations from appropriate behavior will be dealt with strongly. At the discretion of the professor, situations of concern may be dealt with as a scholastic matter or a disciplinary matter.
As a scholastic matter, the professor has the discretion to determine appropriate penalties for the student’s workload or grade, but the situation may be resolved without involving many individuals. An alternative is to treat the situation as a disciplinary matter, which can result in suspension from the University, or have lesser penalties. Be aware that I view this as a very serious matter and will have little tolerance and/or sympathy for questionable practices. A student who attempts to obtain credit for work that is not their own (whether that be on a paper, quiz, homework assignment, exam, etc.) will likely receive a failing grade for that item of work, and at the professor’s discretion, may also receive a failing grade in the course. For more information read the Code of Student Life.
Access and Opportunity, Disability Support, & Medical Services
The University of North Dakota is committed to providing equal access to students with documented disabilities. To ensure access to this class and your program, please contact Disability Services for Students (DSS) to engage in a confidential discussion about accommodations for the classroom and clinical settings. Accommodations are not provided retroactively. Students are encouraged to register with DSS at the start of their program. More information can be obtained by email UND.dss@UND.edu or by phone at 701.777.2664.
COVID-19
UND is committed to maintaining a safe learning environment while providing quality learning experiences for our students. COVID-19’s continued presence within our UND community may necessitate changes in classroom management as the academic year progresses. As such, UND asks students and instructors to be flexible when necessary to promote a safe environment for learning. Please do not attend an in-person class or lab if you are feeling ill, particularly if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or if you have been directed by health professionals to quarantine or isolate. If you are not able to attend class or lab, please notify your instructor as soon as possible and discuss options for making up any missed work in order to ensure your ability to succeed in the course. If you will have an extended absence due to serious illness or other uncontrollable circumstances, you may request an absence notification through the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Similarly, if your instructor is ill they may need to cancel class or temporarily move your course to online delivery to ensure that you are able to complete the course successfully. Instructors may require students to wear masks in the classroom or in the laboratory as a preventative measure designed to facilitate uninterrupted classroom engagement and to facilitate health and safety in the classroom. If your instructor does require masks in class or in a laboratory, you are expected to comply with that request.
UND also strongly encourages all members of the University community, including students, to get vaccinated, seek out testing when needed, and model positive behavior both on- and off-campus to foster a healthy and safe learning environment for all students. Individuals who would like to discuss disability accommodations regarding masks should contact the Disability Services for Students (DSS) office at 701.777.2664 or UND.dss@UND.edu. Individuals who are unable to wear a mask due to a sincerely held religious belief should contact the UND Equal Opportunity and Title IX Office at 701.777.4171 or UND.EO.TitleIX@UND.edu.
Religious Accommodations
UND offers religious accommodations, which are reasonable changes in the academic environment that enable a student to practice or observe a sincerely held religious belief without undue hardship on the University. Examples include time for prayer or the ability to attend religious events or observe a religious holiday. To request an accommodation, complete the student religious accommodation request form. If you have any questions, you may contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office.
Pregnancy Accommodations
Students who need assistance with academic adjustments related to pregnancy or childbirth may contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office or Academic Affairs to learn about your options. Additional information and services may be found at Pregnancy Resources.
Notice of Nondiscrimination
It is the policy of the University of North Dakota that no person shall be discriminated against because of race, religion, age, color, gender, disability, national origin, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, veteran’s status, or political belief or affiliation and the equal opportunity and access to facilities shall be available to all. Concerns regarding Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, ADA, and Section 504 may be addressed to Donna Smith, Assistant Vice President for Equal Opportunity & Title IX and Title IX/ADA Coordinator, 102 Twamley Hall, 701.777.4171, UND.EO.TitleIX@UND.edu or the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Dept. of Education, 230 S. Dearborn St., 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604 or any other federal agency.
Reporting of Discrimination, Harassment, or Sexual Misconduct
If you or a friend has experienced sexual misconduct, such as sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, please contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office or UND’s Title IX Coordinator, Donna Smith, for assistance: 701.777.4171; donna.smith@UND.edu; or visit the Title IX webpage. You may also contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX office if you or a friend has experienced discrimination or harassment based on a protected class, such as race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, pregnancy, marital or parental status, veteran's status, or political belief or affiliation.
Faculty Reporting Obligations Regarding Discrimination, Harassment, or Sexual Misconduct
It is important for students to understand that faculty are required to share with UND’s Title IX Coordinator any incidents of sexual misconduct or of discrimination or harassment based on a protected class that they become aware of, even if those incidents occurred in the past or are disclosed as part of a class assignment. This does not mean an investigation will occur if the student does not want that, but it does allow UND to provide resources to help the student continue to be successful at UND. If you have been impacted by discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct, you can find information about confidential support services on the Equal Opportunity & Title IX webpage..
UND Cares Program
How to Seek Help When in Distress
We know that while college is a wonderful time for most students, however, some students may struggle or have issues that arise. You may experience students in distress on campus, in your classroom, in your home, and within residence halls. Distressed students may initially seek assistance from faculty, staff members, their parents, and other students. In addition to the support we can provide to each other, there are also professional support services available to students through the Dean of Students and University Counseling Center. Both staffs are available to consult with you about getting help or providing a friend with the help that he or she may need. For more additional information, please visit the UND Cares Program Webpage.
How to Recognize When a Student is in Distress
The term “distressed” can mean any of the following:
- Student has significant changes in eating, sleeping, grooming, spending, or other daily activities.
- Student has cut off or minimized contact with family or friends.
- Student has significant changes in performance or involvement in academics, sports, extracurricular, or social activities.
- Student describes problems (missing class, not remembering, destructive behavior) that result from experiences with drinking or drugs.
- Student is acting withdrawn, volatile, tearful, etc.
- Student is acting out of character or different than usual.
- Student is talking explicitly about hopelessness or suicide.
- Student has difficulty concentrating or difficulty carrying on a normal conversation.
- Student has excessive dependence on others for company or support.
- Student reports feeling out of control of one’s emotions, thoughts, or behaviors.
Land Acknowledgement Statement
Today, the University of North Dakota rests on the ancestral lands of the Pembina and Red Lake Bands of Ojibwe and the Dakota Oyate - presently existing as composite parts of the Red Lake, Turtle Mountain, White Earth Bands, and the Dakota Tribes of Minnesota and North Dakota. We acknowledge the people who resided here for generations and recognize that the spirit of the Ojibwe and Oyate people permeate this land. As a university community, we will continue to build upon our relations with the First Nations of the State of North Dakota - the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Nation, Spirit Lake Nation, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.
Additional Resources
It is my goal to foster an environment of mutual respect in which everyone feels comfortable voicing their opinions, sharing their stories, and learning about potentially heavy or personally relevant material. If, at any point, you feel like the information covered in this class elicits thoughts, feelings, or concerns that you would like to discuss further, don’t hesitate to reach out to me, or the UND Counseling Center (701-777-2127).
Further, if you experience extenuating circumstances, sexual violence, identity-based harm, or any other personal crisis during the semester, don’t hesitate to reach out to me so we can provide academic assistance and help you in this course, and put you in contact with the appropriate resources and services (if needed).
- UND Care Team: 701-777-2664 (8:00 AM to 4:30 PM M-F) or 701-777-3491 (evenings and weekends)
- UND Campus Police: 701-777-3491·UND Student Health: 701-777-4500
- UND Title IX Resources
- Abuse and Rape Crisis Hotline (CVIC): 701-746-8900 (24 hours)
- Grand Forks Police Department: 701-787-8000 (24 hours)
- Emergency Room: 701-780-5280
- UND Student Diversity and Inclusion: 701-777-6985
- Food For Thought Pantry: (Wilkerson Commons Room 169; 701-777-4200)
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (1-800-273-8255)