Expert: Meg - 2/2/2004

Question
Okay I need a reserch paper topic on eating disorders I am currently suffering from one myself. I need to know of something that I can prove on eating disorders in a Reserch paper. Please say you can help!


Answer
Hi there-

Hmmm...I had to do a paper like this once and remember having a hard time picking a topic as well, as in my experience, eating disorders can take on so many forms that it can be hard to prove things about them.  That said, there are lots of angles to take and hopefully, at least a few of these ideas will help (or at least get you thinking).

You could do something on the common personality traits that people who develop eds generally display (ie: perfectionism, sensitivity, poss. history of abuse, etc).  This info should be on a lot of webpages, but I feel that www.something-fishy.org is always the most comprehensive site to begin searching.

There have been some recent studies that have found genetic/hereditory links to anorexia.  If you want to take this route, I'd search PubMed-or else just do a google search.  I believe they have done some DNA testing.  However, from what I know, there will probably be limited amounts of information.

You could prove which types of treatment (behavior therapy, inpatient, art therapy, nutritionist, support group vs. individual) seem to be most effective in treating eds.

You could do something about the media influences.

You could could study how the onset of treatment (ie: getting started before one gets too sick) determines the length of illness.

Or you could do something about how often, one ed leads to another (ie: anorexia to bulimia, overeating to bulimia, etc).

I hope this gives you at least a few ideas and wish you lots of luck with your paper and also with your own battle with your eating disorder.

Please feel free to email me again if there is anything else I can do to help.

Take care!
Meg