Concept Proposal for "American Beauty- An Electronic Memorial to those who suffer from Aneorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa"

Introduction

The members of the project “American Beauty” propose to create an electronic monument in tribute to the victims of eating disorders, specifically Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. While the dangers of eating disorders are recognized by the medical community, the general public is often misinformed about these mental illnesses and their triggers. Although eating disorders are symptomatic of larger psychological issues, images in the media of the "ideal beauty" can trip the trigger for this type of behavior. The American ideal of beauty is equated to being thin to the point of emaciation. This image is displayed in ads, television, movies and magazines and inspires men and women of all ages to strive for unrealistic goals in their personal appearance. The presentation of these unrealistic, unhealthy images of “beauty” to sell products is allowable because of America’s heritage of freedom of speech.

While free speech is valued in all venues, the resulting consequences can be devastating. Those with eating disorders constantly compare themselves to the “ideal” images and find themselves lacking. Once the physical damage has been done, however, those needing treatment cannot afford it due to spiraling medical costs and the denial of benefits by the insurance industry. Treatment for eating disorders can be lengthy and expensive. Without adequate, long term insurance coverage many of the victims do not survive. Unrecognized and unappreciated by the public, those who die as a result of eating disorders are sacrificed in the name the freedom of expression that is so valued in America. The withholding of coverage by insurance companies adds to this sacrifice in that we, the American people, have not demanded that this situation be rectified.

We would like to propose the addition of the site “American Beauty” to the existing UCF Health Services site at http://www.shs.ucf.edu/ . By adding this link to our site, you will gain an outlet with which to inform your visitors of the seriousness and scope of eating disorders and offer assistance to those who suffer from this mental illness.

Purpose
The purpose of our project is to recognize the victims of eating disorders as sacrifices made by the American public. In doing so, we will provide information on the scope of those affected, the duration and effects of the diseases and financial difficulties that are caused by the insurance industry’s policies

The scope of eating disorders is not as narrow as many people think. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, an estimated 720,000 of U.S. teenagers suffer from anorexia and between 5-20% of these will die from the physical repercussions of this mental illness. Eight-six percent report onset of illness by the age of 20 and 10% report onset at 10 years or younger.”¹ Although the media has spotlighted the young teenage girls as the victims of this disabling condition, the scope of victims is far broader. Patients range in age from 7 to 80 years. Anorexia is also a trans-gender problem. According to the George Mason University Counseling Center, “Among the college student population, a reported 1% to 7% of male students suffer from eating disorders; among the general population, the estimate is 5%.”² Fatal dangers for both anorexics and bulimics include gastric ruptures, cardiac arrhythmias, and heart failure.

The public also needs to know how and how often victims of anorexia die. According to The National Women’s Health Information Center, ”Experts in eating disorders now know that anorexia nervosa is the most deadly of all mental illness, claiming more lives proportionately than depression or schizophrenia.”³ By understanding the physical ailments that accompany this mental illness, the viewer can come to grasp with the concept that this is not a matter of vanity, but one of physical ramifications of a psychological condition. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, “Anorexia's obsessive food focus begins in the mind, but its devastating damage is all too physical. For each decade of chronic anorexia, sufferers face a 5 percent risk of dying because of heart problems, infections, or liver or kidney dysfunction."⁴

Recovery is extremely expensive and can run into thousands of dollars per month. According to National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, “The existing insurance code discriminates in favor of physical over mental illness coverage. Sufferers of eating disorders are frequently the victims of insurance discrimination. Families relate stories of extreme hardship. It is not unusual for a family to be forced into bankruptcy in order to get appropriate treatment for their loved ones. Many times they are initially told that they are covered, only to find they are refused coverage after the victim is hospitalized.” ⁵

With this knowledge about eating disorders and their treatments and cost, the public will become aware of the toll that these disorders take on the lives of the victims. Our goal is to move the viewers in such a way that they will educate others and take action to reduce the victimization of those suffering from eating disorders.

Objectives and Methods

The following are our goals for the site:

I. To provide information to the general public about eating disorders and how sufferers are sacrificed by our society.

II. To educate the public about the demographic scope, duration, and financial aspects of these diseases.

III. To educate the public about the insurance industry’s rationale in refusing long- term coverage due Anorexia’s chronic nature.

IV. To reach the audience in a way that is personal and emotional.

V. To have the audience relate personally to testimonies and stories.

VI. To evaluate ones own, or a loved one’s, susceptibility towards an eating disorder through interactive tests.

VII. To provide resources for information and treatment of Anorexia and other eating disorders.

Qualifications

Corrine Hudson- Corinne has been making websites for 2 years while attending UCF. She is a student in the Digital Media Internet Interactive Media program and will graduate in December,2002. She has been working for the U.S. Geological Survey⁶ creating and maintaining websites for 2 years. She has also worked on many school projects such as the CREAT site⁷ and the Fallen Jedi Fan Film web site ⁸. She also has experience writing Requests for Proposals’s and Concept Proposals⁹.

Katie Leavitt- Katie is a student at the University of Central Florida majoring in Writing for Digital Media. Her article “Surgery for the Soul¹⁰” was published on the UCF website “The Gender Gazette” and “The International Code of Miss-Conduct: Violence Against Women¹¹” was published on the UCF Women’s Studies Program’s website. She currently works for AMPAC, the Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center in the Engineering department at UCF where she is an assistant editor, maintains web sites and works with graphic design.

Pam Rogers¹²-Pam designed and built websites for 3 years while attending UCF. She graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Media, specializing in Internet/Interactive Media. Past projects include the SISO site¹⁴ for the Department of Applied Research and Technology, a division of the Institute for Simulation and Training and UCF’s CREAT site¹⁵. She has also designed and built databases for The Institute for Simulation and Training and UCF's Facilities Planning.

Schedule and Budget

Week 1 Benchmark sites and layout, image gathering, First Draft Designs

Week 2 Second Draft Designs

Week 3 Final Draft Designs

Week 4 Site Programming

Week 5 Implementing Media, Testing

Week 6 Presentation of Final Site

This site will take approximately 170 hours to build. The work will be divided evenly between the members of the project team.

References

1. “Eating Disorders:Myths and Campus Resources”
http://www.gmu.edu/departments/csdc/eat.html

2. “Facts about Eating Disorders.”
http://www.anad.org/facts.htm

3. David France, national affairs editor of Glamour Magazine;
Printed on The National Women’s Health Informational Center site
http://www.4woman.gov/editor/dec99/index.htm

4. Marilyn Chase The Wall Street Journal Date: 03/27/99
http://www.kcstar.com/item/pages/moneywise.pat,business/30dadac6.325.html

5.National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
http://www.anad.org/parity.htm

6. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
http://fl.water.usgs.gov/Orlando/

7. University of Central Florida’s Consortium for Research and Education in the Arts and Technology
http://www.dm.ucf.edu

8. Star Wars Fallen Jedi Site
http://www.malomations.com/FallenJedi/main.html

9. KDCK Web Design
http://sulley.dm.ucf.edu/~collierk/bible.html

10. Leavitt, Kathleen “Surgery for the Soul” The Gender Gazette May/June 2001
http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~womenst/gzet_newsletter/mayjunesummer/Surgery.htm

11. Leavitt, Kathleen “The International Code of Miss-Conduct: Violence Against Women”
http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~womenst/home.html

12. Pam Rogers’ Home Page
http://rosewoodgraphics.us

13. University of Central Florida- Facilities Planning Division Home Page
http://www.fp.ucf.edu/

14. Institute for Simulation and Training
http://dart.ist.ucf.edu/dart/SIS/

15. University of Central Florida’s Consortium for Research and Education in the Arts and Technology
http://www.dm.ucf.edu