Location, Location, Location: How Adolescent Eating Disorders are Impacted by Geography?

Presenter Information

Haylee GomezFollow

Abstract

Past research and articles provide extensive details on eating disorders, their impact on young adults, and the factors that can trigger the onset of these problematic eating habits. Research on the location of the suffering youth, specifically in rural areas of the United States, and other factors that may contribute to the development of these disordered eating patterns beyond the “known features” remains limited (Hahn et al., 2022; Douthit et al., 2015; Crumb et al., 2019; Hooper et al., 2021). The current study aims to examine how the limited availability of treatment, lack of access to food, and mental health resources in rural Appalachia affect individuals living there. The study will take a quantitative approach (EDE-Q) to capture the generalized effect young adults in rural Appalachia are experiencing with limited food or disordered eating in their young adult life. The study aims to detect any active indications of disordered eating behavior by conducting a quantitative survey that specifically searches for behaviors resembling anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorders. With this approach, there is hope that results will show an active emergency needing help. Demonstrating and highlighting this issue can enlighten readers to outside resources. Bringing this issue up again can educate readers, and those within the rural location itself, that eating disorders are still a current issue. And that there are other reasons as to why young adults may show eating disorder behavior.

Start Time

16-4-2025 11:00 AM

End Time

16-4-2025 12:00 PM

Room Number

271

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Presentation Subtype

UG Orals

Presentation Category

Social Sciences & Business

Faculty Mentor

Kristina Feeser

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Apr 16th, 11:00 AM Apr 16th, 12:00 PM

Location, Location, Location: How Adolescent Eating Disorders are Impacted by Geography?

271

Past research and articles provide extensive details on eating disorders, their impact on young adults, and the factors that can trigger the onset of these problematic eating habits. Research on the location of the suffering youth, specifically in rural areas of the United States, and other factors that may contribute to the development of these disordered eating patterns beyond the “known features” remains limited (Hahn et al., 2022; Douthit et al., 2015; Crumb et al., 2019; Hooper et al., 2021). The current study aims to examine how the limited availability of treatment, lack of access to food, and mental health resources in rural Appalachia affect individuals living there. The study will take a quantitative approach (EDE-Q) to capture the generalized effect young adults in rural Appalachia are experiencing with limited food or disordered eating in their young adult life. The study aims to detect any active indications of disordered eating behavior by conducting a quantitative survey that specifically searches for behaviors resembling anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorders. With this approach, there is hope that results will show an active emergency needing help. Demonstrating and highlighting this issue can enlighten readers to outside resources. Bringing this issue up again can educate readers, and those within the rural location itself, that eating disorders are still a current issue. And that there are other reasons as to why young adults may show eating disorder behavior.