Journal Article

Guarda, Angela S., et al. "Anorexia as a Motivated Behavior: Relevance of Anxiety,

Stress, Fear, and Learning." Physiology and Behavior: n. pag. Rpt. in Physiology
and Behavior. N.p.: Elsevier, 2015. N. pag. Print
Summary
Anorexia nervosa is a behavioral disorder in which a person develops habits that
contribute to the persistence of abnormal eating and exercise behaviors. The correlation
between anorexia and anxiety disorders is well recognized. The concept of fear
extinction, which when applied to each anorexia case means that the fear of being
overweight or fat in recovering anorexic leads to relapse, is of interest.
Evidence from animal models of anxiety and human laboratory studies through
anorexia models show that having a low estrogen level can significantly affects fear
extinction. Therefore, the low levels of estrogen potentially play a role in perpetuating the
fear of food and fat in recovering patients. The effect of hormones in regards to anxiety
and anorexic behaviors may contribute to the development of new and better treatments
for anorexia nervosa.
Application to Research
A lot of the information covered in this article is about the hormonal effects of
anorexia, which is mainly related to the chemical complex of anorexia in the brain, and
thats what Im studying. The information about the estrogen levels helps me develop
new ideas and allows me to make connections to other hormones in anorexia.
Additionally, it provided information about fear extinction, which I had not originally
thought about in my research, but after reading this article, I feel like it is something I can
definitely watch out for in the laboratory and experiments.
Internet Site
Benjamen, Marina. "When Working out Shifts from a Healthy Habit to Obsession." When
Working out Shifts from a Healthy Habit to Obsession. ANAD, n.d. Web. 16 Sept.
2015. <http://www.anad.org/news/when-working-out-shifts-from-a-healthy-habitto-obsession/>.
Summary
Most people work out to get in to develop strength and fitness or to lose weight.
However, some people take it to the extremes and develop exercise addiction or exercise
induced anorexia. Vivian Lynn of Georgia nearly killed herself at the gym. I had
always dieted, she says. When I saw what exercise did for my bodyI went a little
crazy. The following is the criteria for diagnosis of exercise induced anorexia: It

interferes with daily activities and relationships, you believe that bad things will happen
if you dont work out, you develop a perfectionist attitude toward exercise and your body,
you ignore the signs of illness, injury or fatigue and work out despite them, you set
unattainable goals (miles run, hours worked out, percentage of body fat, etc.) You ignore
friendships or satisfying hobbies in order to exercise.
Application to Research
In my research, I will be using the anorexia model for rats, which is exerciseinduced anorexia. The rats will be running on a spinning wheel for long periods of time,
and when they are done exercising and given food, they reject the food resulting in a
lower body weight. This article helped me to better understand exercise-induced anorexia
which is necessary since the rats I will be experimenting with are under that same
condition.
Interview
"IU Researchers Interview Pro-anorexic Bloggers for Groundbreaking New Study."
Interview by Indiana University. IU News Room. Indiana University, 20 Aug.
2012. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.
<http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/22967.html>.
Summary
Indiana University Researchers interviewed 33 pro-anorexia bloggers and found
that many of them used their blog and writing as a release and a way to express
themselves without judgment. This interview highlights the fact that many of the people
who follow the blogs are seeking a community, and within the anorexia community they
find people like themselves who are seeking or may also need support. For example,
anorexic bloggers and followers receive encourage when they fail in their efforts, or if
they want to stop and try to recover, the community will also support them. This has the
potential of being crucial in the success of a recovering anorexicstarting blogs and
writing can provide an outlet to take out their emotions instead of punishing themselves
through extreme food and exercise habits while they go through recovery. Additionally, in
medical literature, trying to reach out and find support within a community is the first
step of recovery and treatment.
Application to Research
This interview is especially important because it helps to remind me that anorexia
affects actual living peopleoften times in the laboratory, we are so focused on results
form experiments and the chemicals or hormones involved that we forget that people are
being seriously affected by the disease. It also allowed me a look into an anorexics brain,
which helps me better understand the disease and try to connect more with people who
suffer from it. Overall, this article grounded me and provided information into the way

anorexics think, which reminds me to look for ways in my research that the disease
affects people, not just what the chemical complex of the disease is.
Video
Before and After Treatment: Eating Disorders Help. Ed. Mirror Mirror Eating Disorders.
Mirror Mirror Eating Disorders. N.p., 13 Mar. 2012. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.mirror-mirror.org/eating-disorder-videos.html>.
Summary
The video is focused on the story of two girls who have had anorexia nervosa.
The girls talk about it began, how badly the disease ate them away, and how they
recovered. Both get very emotional and talk about how the disease controlled them, but
how family, friends, and pushing through helped them beat the disease, and how anorexia
nervosa affects them today.
Application to Research
This video is important to my research because it allowed me to watch the two
and see if there was anything that could trigger any thoughts or ideas. It was definitely a
video that helped create a spark. I watched the two girls carefully and their mannerisms
and how certain proteins or chemicals could potentially have caused them to get the
disease or maybe relapse back into anorexia nervosa. It was a very intriguing and
inspiring video and allowed me to focus in and really think about my topic.