Story 2- Eating Disorders

For some people, like Anne Lee*, 21, having an eating disorder wasn’t a conscious decision. She just turned off her stomach, she said. Eating wasn’t a priority and that was the way she wanted it.

        Lee, a Lake Forest, Ill. native, dealt with her anorexia throughout eighth and into ninth grade before her parents intervened. Her mom, Mary, and dad, Joe, noticed she was sick a lot, seemed unhappy, and didn’t want to go to school.

After going to gastroenterologists, and not coming home with a diagnosis, her pediatrician, Dr. Martini, finally figured out what was wrong. Together, her mom and Martini decided that she should go to an eating disorder clinic in the neighboring town of Highland Park, Ill.

At the clinic, Lee went to group therapy and realized how her irregular eating patterns became an eating disorder. Other then that, she didn’t like the sessions because the other girls said they had disorders because they wanted to fit in with their friends. This was not the case with her. Lee convinced her parents that she was fine after only two group meetings.

Her mom and dad continued to monitor her eating habits until they were convinced that her frame of mind had changed.

Their intervention changed her daily routine. Going to college changes the routines and habits of many students. According to the scholarly article, Effectiveness of and Internet-Based Program for Reducing Risk Factors for Eating Disorders, 25 percent of college students are thought to be susceptible to eating disorders.

Amy Neeren, who has her doctorate in clinical psychology, said that some common causes of eating disorders are life transitions, extreme stress, socio-cultural factors, peers, family members, the media, and parental pressures in the home environment.

Along with these factors, Amy Henning, the Associate Director of Counseling and Director of Training and Drexel University’s Counseling Center, explained, “Having body image concerns doesn’t necessarily lead to the development of an eating disorder, those emotional/psychological issues runs a lot deeper and can include a genetic predisposition, significant family chaos, poor self-esteem, and societal pressures.”

For Lee, issues with eating began when she started to feel unhappy with her group of friends in eighth grade. She had been with the same friends since she started school and didn’t feel fulfilled. On top of that, her older brother, Joey, became sick and her dad switched jobs, which made her mom unhappy.

At this time she started skipping meals and working out a lot in addition to playing water polo and joining the swim team at her high school. Lee wouldn’t eat all day until she had a small dinner with her family. Afterwards, she was so exhausted she went right to bed.

        Lee’s family intervention might have saved her life. At Drexel, the Counseling Center does have options available for concerned friends and family of someone who may have an eating disorder.

        The Counseling Center is always available for consultation for concerned parties, Henning said. They can call or stop in to talk to a counselor. The center also has resources such as brochures, handouts and online information for those interested. Due to confidentiality limitations, counselors can not talk about a student’s treatment without their permission. However, the staff at the center can listen to all concerns from friends and family and make recommendations.

For students battling disordered eating and eating disorders, the Counseling Center offers various forms of help.

Besides individual counseling, there is a body image support group, psychoeducational presentations for faculty, staff and student organizations and an online screening process. In addition, the Peer Counseling Helpline can direct students to get the help they need. The Counseling Center participates in the National Eating Disorder Screening Program and offers free and confidential eating disorder screenings one day every year, Henning said.

As a counselor, there are many steps to treating a patient, Henning said. First, the nature of the problem needs to be assessed through an intake exam. Then, the severity of the symptoms and how they interfere with the student’s daily functioning must be determined. If appropriate, a student may be seen for therapy in the Counseling Center, or if he or she has full-blown eating disorder, they may be referred to an off-campus treatment facility.

        A ‘team approach’ is usually the most effective when working with someone with an eating disorder, Henning said. The student may be referred to other professionals such as a psychiatrist, who may prescribe medication such as antidepressants and a nutritionist who specializes in eating disorders. A medical doctor and psychotherapy through the Counseling Center may also be employed.

“Treating someone with an eating disorder can be an intensive process that may take a long time, and it is sometimes necessary to refer a student to an off-campus intensive out-patient program or in-patient program,” Henning said.

Neeren, who is also a research fellow at Drexel, said that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a type of psychotherapy, is often used to treat students seeking help. During this type of therapy, a counselor works with the patient to change their thinking about their body image.

This is often done by exposing them to fearful situations around food. For example, the therapist may have the person with an eating disorder eat a cookie and then weigh themselves to show that they didn’t gain ten pounds like they feared.

While these approaches have been effective in the experience of both counselors, they think more could be done to further aid the student body at Drexel who may suffer from body image problems and/or full-on eating disorders.

Neeren said she believes increased awareness can come in the form of flyers, ads and more classroom presentations about eating disorders. She wants the Drexel community to know that there is help out there.

        Henning would like to see a community effort to ease apprehensions many students have about going into the Counseling Center, before their issues get out of control. This is especially true for body issues, because disordered eating can spiral out of control quickly. Educating people without disorders would also be beneficial so they don’t contribute to a suffer’s torment.

Increasing the awareness of eating disorders is another one of her goals. Beyond the symptoms, people need to know how complicated this psychological disorder really is. Henning would also like to see more programs that deal with body image to give people realistic ideals, not what is prevalent in Hollywood.

Neeren said that from her experience, some people will go to great lengths to get as thin as some of the models and people they see on TV. What these people don’t realize is that this is unrealistic and people get touched up a lot.

Though dealing with an eating disorder can be a lifelong challenge, there are success stories.

Lee began to get better around her sophomore year of high school when her older sister Katie developed anorexia too. At this time, Joey was also not doing well with his illness. Lee felt disgusted in herself for being so self-absorbed when her family members really needed her support. She decided to really make an effort to get better.

“Ultimately, being stick skinny isn’t what’s going to make me happy. When I start to steer back into my old habits, I reinvest my energy in helping someone else. That’s what makes me feel good about myself,” Lee said.

 

 

* Name changed to protect identity.

 

 

– Check out my Q&A Session with counselor Amy Henning!

– Watch this video about one girl’s battle with her eating disorder.

Upcoming Story

My next big post will be the upcoming story I am working on for my online journalism class. It’s going to stem from my first story that dealt with fitness instructors. I am looking into how to media affects people’s body image. Besides looking at eating disorders, I am investigating the services Drexel offers to those who seek help, whether it be for themselves, or a friend they are concerned about. I have already interviewed a counselor at the Drexel Office of Counseling and Health, a Drexel psychologist and a woman who previously had an eating disorder. I hope these interviews will round-out my article and let me examine how well or poorly Drexel aids those with body image issues.

Writing a Story

As a communications major with a concentration in global journalism, I spend a lot of my time writing papers. In fact, sometimes I think that’s all I do. I have it down to a science. Everyone has their own ways of going about papers, stories and the like, and I’d like to share with you my way.

First, I find a topic. I try to make sure that it’s something that intrests me, so I’ll get into the research and writing process. For my online journalism class, I’ve been trying to make sure it ties into my blog. Also, make sure your topic has a specific angle that you can focus on.

Second, I think about what resources I have at my disposal. Besides using the internet for research and statistics, I need to find people I can interview. Since I am attending Drexel, faculty and staff are usually more then willing to help. If they can’t help, I’ve found that they usually recommend colleagues who can. I try and set up my interviews as soon as possible.

Third, I make up questions for people I am interviewing. It’s always good to do this beforehand so you’re not caught off guard.

Fourth, I go on the interviews. I aim for in-person ones, but if that isn’t possible, a phone or e-mail interview can be conducted. However, in-person interviews provide more detail (think facial expressions, hesitations and body language) and allow you to clarify any questions you may have right then and there. After the interview, I go over my notes and clarify any sloppy handwriting or incomplete thoughts while everything is still fresh in my mind.

Fifth, I compile my interview notes and research and write the story. When I’m finished, I always go back and edit my work.

Sixth, I hand it in to my teacher, who will add in any comments or edits he or she deems necessary. Then I re-write the piece with these included.

Being finished is the most rewarding part. Having a completed story makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something.

I hope this information helps anyone who is interested in journalism, or may not know how to go about starting to write a story. Feel free to comment this piece if you have any questions.

Mini-Project: Critical Analysis Revised

            I compared two articles on Mexican President Felipe Calderone’s new agenda to crack down on drug trafficking.  One was from the January 30, print edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer and the other was from the Christian Science Monitor online edition from January 22.

            Both leads were only one sentence, but with different approaches.  The Inquirer took more of a hard news(ish) approach, while the Christian Science Monitor painted a descriptive picture.  A descriptive online lead is generally discouraged, but this one was executed well.  The reader could vividly picture the soldiers raiding a marijuana field.

            The online article was longer then the one in print and could have been shortened.  I started to lose interest about half-way through.

            I found it interesting that the online article had 15 sources, while the print edition had nine.  The Christian Science Monitor did go more in depth into problems in the local communities over drugs and how Calderone is doing things differently from past leaders.  Some of its sources included drugs experts, army generals, a national security expert in Mexico City and a Mexican citizen from Patzcuaro.  The Inquirer cited the Los Angeles Times, a Mexican historian, a Mexican newspaper poll and a law professor among others.  Both newspapers cited “analysts,” but didn’t say who they were.

            The two articles seemed pretty objective. The print one might have glorified Calderone’s work, if only slightly, by showing how much he is doing when the United States has switched its area of focus.  It also spent a good amount of space describing the United States response to the problem and what officials are doing that might actually worsen the situation.   On the other hand, the Christian Science Monitor showed a more well-rounded view of the entire problem.

            Overall, both were well written, though maybe not for their selected audiences.  I would have switched the two articles to the opposite medium.  I do not know if the Christian Science Monitor simply pasted a copy of its print article online, but the online story would have been more effective in print.  The Inquirer story was fine as it was, but of the two, would have made the better online article.

Writing for Online Publishing

I re-wrote the first portion of this article that appeared in the Tuesday, January 30, 2007, print edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer to make it more suitable for online publication.

Article Title: “New Miss America is from Okla.- again”

LAS VEGAS- Lauren Nelson of Oklahoma was crowned Miss America Monday night, the second year in a row that a Miss Oklahoma won the crown.

Nelson, 20, is a student at the University of Central Oklahoma.

She is an aspiring Broadway star and wants to get her master’s in musical theater.

Miss Texas, Shilah Phillips, was the runner-up and Miss Georgia, Amanda Kozak, was second runner-up. Miss Alabama, Melinda Toole, was voted as Miss Congeniality.

Jennifer Berry, last year’s winner, crowned Nelson. Nelson, sang “You’ll Be in My Heart” in the talent competition. She plans to promote protecting children online during her reign.

As Miss America, Nelson gets a $50,000 scholarship. She will make thousands more in appearance fees.

###

Are Chat Rooms Sources of Newsworthy Information?

The first chat room I looked into was called “Iraq War Chat Room” and located at http://www.weirdtown.com/find/chat/news/iraq_war_chat_room.jsp. The funny thing was no one was talking about the war. Some people were talking back and forth about the Super Bowl, others were making raunchy comments. Some people were asking if anyone spoke certain languages such as French and Spanish. I hung around for about 15 minutes and still no talk about the war, President Bush, or anything that you think would be discussed in such a chat room.

After my failed attempt to find something newsworthy in a supposedly political chat room, I went for a more general one called, “General Dog Forum” that was meant for all dog lovers. It’s located at http://www.dogforums.com/2-general-dog-forum . I actually found this one more interesting. Two members who were both on disability were swamping web sites and information on getting low cost veterinary fees for their dogs. Other topics such as dog training, information on different breeds and neighbors scaring puppies were posted. I think this chat room might provide a human interest story for a newspaper, but nothing front cover. It could provide different angels to already covered topics as well.

Story 1: Fitness Instructors

Rob Ryan’s worst school day starts with physics lecture from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a biology lecture from 12:30 to 2 p.m., and a biology lab from 4-6 p.m. The day ends with an organic chemistry lecture from 6-10 p.m.

“Where am I supposed to fit in working out with a schedule like that?” asked Ryan, a sophomore at Drexel University. His other days are only slightly better.

The biology major isn’t the only college student who finds it hard to pencil in exercise on a regular basis.  But, for fitness instructors, especially those who are college students, it’s their job.

Juliana Marciniak, a junior at Canisius College in Buffalo, knows this reality.

“Being an instructor has actually kept me more focused in school. I am constantly busy so I have no time to slack off,” Marciniak said.

Marciniak, 20, uses her job to enhance her college experience.

“As a college student, teaching classes enables me to stay fit and lead a healthy lifestyle as well. Teaching morning classes are my favorite because it gets me prepared and energized for the rest of my day,” Marciniak said.

Johanna Hernandez, a fitness instructor and graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, has a similar point of view. Even though teaching exercise classes is only a side job for her, exercise is still part of her everyday life.

“I love doing it to keep exercising. It gets me out of my house,” Hernandez said.

Both women teach different classes, but had to take the same road to become certified by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). This certification involves a primary fitness workshop which included training and practical and written exams. Marciniak had to conduct a demo class to prove she could lead a session. The two also take continuing education credit classes each year to learn the newest workouts.

All trainers must be certified in CPR as well. This license must be renewed every year.

Marciniak previously taught at her local Gold’s Gym, but now works at the Buffalo Athletic Club. She is certified in and instructs aerobics-type classes for hip-hop, jazz, step and katami, a strengthening and toning class. She has been a fitness instructor for four years.

Hernandez has her primary certification, which means she can teach any fitness class. She is additionally qualified to teach turbo kick and IFTA, a type of kick boxing. The 26-year-old works at Drexel University’s Daskalaskis Athletic Center (DAC). There she leads abdominal exercises and what Drexel calls “cardio n’ tone” classes. Hernandez is in her seventh year of instructing.

Leading fitness classes has its rewards said both instructors. For Marciniak, it’s seeing a member’s face when they achieve their goals.

“Seeing others enjoying my class also lifts my spirits and encourages me to take up the intensity even more,” Marciniak said.

Hernandez enjoys seeing her students’ smiles. She said it feels good when people come up to her after a session and say, “I love your class.”

The Swarthmore, Pa., native has a baby, which also impacts her classes. When she was pregnant and still teaching, it really motivated her students.

“During my pregnancy everyone was like gosh, if she can do it, I can do it too. And it’s so true. Anyone can do it if they really try,” Hernandez said.

There are pitfalls to the profession. Marciniak and Hernandez noted that fatigue, injuries, and illness do occur.

Hernandez said that people count on her. It’s difficult knowing that if she can’t teach one day because she’s sick, someone may be disappointed. Also, it is especially hard on the body’s joints if a fitness instructor is on a wood floor every day.

Marciniak noted that fatigue can take its toll. But for everyone’s good, she has to stay motivated.

The two students believe the publicity the profession has been receiving only enhances it.

“They (fitness instructors) serve as a reference point to those who may not know how to enhance their health. We provide motivation and leadership, which is often needed to maintain a member’s consistency,” Marciniak said.

An aspiring social worker, Hernandez said she is especially sensitive to how Americans today need to be motivated. Putting a celebrity’s face on something often does the trick.

She used Carmen Electra’s Striptease workout series as an example.

“She’s designed a class specifically that she is extremely knowledgeable about, which is the striptease, obviously. She knows that. She was a dancer, so she has all that body kinesthetic, she’s aware of her body that way,” Hernandez said.

Electra is trained in dance, which helps her video series because she appears to have expertise in this area. Hernandez thinks it’s a great thing if celebrities come up with something that they are trained in.

If there’s classes out there people enjoy they’re going to incorporate them into their daily lives. That will help everyone live longer, she said.

That seems to be what both women have in mind, providing others with the environment and motivation to achieve their fitness goals. This ultimately leads to the healthier lifestyle that Hernandez firmly believes in, even after many years of teaching.

“And doing it for seven years, I never get bored or tired of it. It’s always new and exciting for me,” Hernandez said.

Don’t be a scaredy cat…start working out!

Check out my interview with Johanna. It runs 6:33 minutes.

 

 

Mini Project: Critical Analysis

I compared two articles on Mexican President Felipe Calderone’s new agenda to crack down on drug trafficking. One was from the January 30, print edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer and the other was from the Christian Science Monitor online from January 22.

Both leads were only one sentence, but with different approaches. The Inquirer took more of a hard news(ish) approach, while the Christian Science Monitor painted a descriptive picture. A descriptive online lead is generally discouraged, but this one was executed well.

The online article was longer then the one in print and could have been shortened. I started to lose interest about half way through.

I found it interesting that the online article had 15 sources, while the print edition had nine. The Christian Science Monitor did go more in depth into problems in the local communities over drugs and how Calderone is doing things differently from past leaders. Some of its sources included drugs experts, army generals, a national security expert in Mexico City and a Mexican citizen from Patzcuaro. The Inquirer cited the Los Angeles Times, a Mexican historian, a Mexican newspaper poll and a law professor among others. Both newspapers cited “analysts.”

The two articles seemed pretty objective. The print one might have glorified Calderone’s work, if only slightly. It also spent a good amount of space describing the United State’s response to the problem and what officials are doing that might not help the drug situation. On the other hand, the Christian Science Monitor showed a more well-rounded view of the entire problem.

Overall, both were well written, though maybe not for their selected audiences. I would have switched the two articles to the opposite medium. I do not know if the Christian Science Monitor simply pasted a copy of its print article online, but the online story would have been more effective in print. The Inquirer story was fine as it was, but of the two, would have made the better online article.

It’s More then Just Eating Right

Exercise is crucial for a healthy lifestyle. Besides eating right, getting enough activity, 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week at minimum, is important. I attached the Drexel University group exercise schedule below if working out on your own isn’t your thing. If you don’t go to Drexel, universities often have similar programs. I found this schedule on the Drexel web site, but it is also available in the DAC (our athletic center).

Find A Relative

Most family vacations don’t involve the southernmost island in the world and some penguins.  However, for Michael and Melissa DiGioia their vacation did. 

My cousin Michael has been up to some pretty interesting stuff since I last saw him at his wedding in June of 2005.  This included hiking through Argentina, climbing glaciers in the Andes Mountains and stopping as close to Antarctica as possible without actually being there, during a two week trip in the end of October and beginning of November 2006. 

Michael and his family moved from Broomall, Pa. to Pittsburgh, Pa. in 1991 when he was 14.  I lived nearby and was only five-years-old at the time.  He eventually went to Penn State University and upon graduation moved with Melissa, then his girlfriend, to Washington.  They settled in a Seattle suburb called Bothell.

Currently employed by Prima Blue Cross as their Member Communications Manager, he has worked in corporate communications since moving to the West Coast.   Michael, 30, helps Prima members learn how to use their health insurance wisely. 

Recently, on his time off from work, he went snowboarding with his Melissa, now his wife. Unlike the conditions in Pennsylvania, there is a 150-inch base in the mountains outside of Seattle due to snow storms in December and January.  Michael said that the conditions are better then those in Colorado and Utah. 

In his spare time Michael also plays Ultimate Frisbee.  He sits on the board of directors of the Northwestern Ultimate Frisbee Association.  This association includes all of Washington State and is comprised of 11 board members and two employees.  It coordinates an adult and youth league and boasts the largest co-ed league in the country.  Altogether NUFA has over 1500 participants. Melissa is a member and Michael said her Frisbee skills are better then his.

My cousin’s more daily routine includes working on his house and training for triathlons.  The last one he competed in was in September.  His goal is to enter another after June.  This involves training seven days a week since there are three different activities, running, swimming and biking. Each vary so much, that Michael is constantly trying to stay in shape for each he said. 

With such a hectic schedule he enjoys the limited time he gets to spend with family.  Over Christmas Michael went to visit his parents and five siblings in Pittsburgh.  In August, they all went together to visit their one sister, Jennifer, in Las Vegas.  He also must make time for Melissa’s parents who now reside in Phoenix, Ariz., though originally from Cleveland, Ohio.  They moved to get away from the cold weather. 

Whatever the reasons that people have for moving, there is always something to bring them back together: family.  After all, that’s what allowed Michael and me to talk after over a year-and-a-half.  We’re family.