Names of Group Members: ____________________________________________________________________
Case Study 1
As a young child Fatima did not worry about her weight. When she was 11 years old, some of her friends started to
talk about dieting, but Fatima was comfortable with her body. When Fatima turned 12 years old her body began to
change. She also started attending a school where most of the girls wore make-up and designer clothes. One of her
friends remarked that Fatima was gaining weight. Fatima became concerned about gaining weight so she decided to
go on a diet and not allow her weight to go above 43 kg (95 pounds). Eventually, Fatima started to have difficulty
sleeping at night. She felt tired and cold all of the time. She noticed her hair was thinning and one day she even
fainted in class. As a result of these physical changes, Fatima began to avoid going out with her friends. At age 13,
her favourite grandmother passed away. At this time she began to starve herself and lost a dramatic amount of
weight, striving to be as thin as possible and hating herself even if she gained half a kilogram.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why did Fatima begin dieting?
2. What were the effects of Fatima’s dieting and undereating?
3. Why do you think that Fatima began starving herself at age 13?
4. How was Fatima’s social life affected by her dieting?
5. What healthy strategies could Fatima use to make herself feel better?
Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher’s Resource for Grades 1-8, 2000
Activities, Grade 8
Names of Group Members: ___________________________________________________________________
Case Study 2
John is 12 years old and likes to play sports. He is sometimes teased by the other kids in gym class because he isn’t
as muscular or as athletic as they are. Over time, John begins to dislike any kind of physical activity and prefers to
stay home and play on his computer and watch television. John feels lonely and bored so for something to do he
begins eating more than he normally ate. John thinks that eating more will be okay, because it might help him gain
more muscle. His family notices he is beginning to put on weight and that he isn’t participating in any sports or
playing with his friends. Not only does John begin to feel tired all the time and to complain of constant indigestion,
he feels sad and down on himself and his body.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why does John begin eating more?
2. What are the effects of John’s overeating?
3. Why do John’s classmates ridicule him?
4. What impact on John do you think his classmates’ teasing had?
5. What would you recommend John do to become confident about his athletic abilities?
Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher’s Resource for Grades 1-8, 2000
Activities, Grade 8
Name: ______________________________
Test Your Knowledge
Answer the following TRUE or FALSE statements.
True
False
1. Body weight is mostly determined by heredity.
2. Most people who use steroids do so to enhance
athletic performance.
3. Healthy eating means eating only low fat foods.
4. Positive self-talk, being confident and connecting
with people who make you feel good are ways to
increase self-esteem.
5. Weight loss diets are healthy.
6. Anorexia Nervosa only occurs in females.
7. Some media messages tell us that we can never be
too thin.
8. Significant weight loss, preoccupation with food,
feeling cold, and fatigue are some signs of Anorexia
Nervosa.
9. Binge eating disorder is a type of dysfunctional eating.
10. Binge eating followed by purging, vomitting or using laxatives and
weight fluctuation are some signs of Bulimia Nervosa.
11. Sports dieting is a healthy way to help reach athletic goals.
12. Obsessing about food all the time is an example of
dysfunctional eating.
13. The more protein you eat, the bigger your muscles will be.
14. Purging does not result in any nutrient imbalances.
Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher’s Resource for Grades 1-8, 2000
Activities, Grade 8
Test Your Knowledge
Answer Sheet for Teachers
1. Body weight is mostly determined by heredity.
True. Different body shapes and sizes are among the things that make each person unique. Because body shape
and size are determined by genetics, many heavy children will never be “thin”. However, they can be healthy,
active people who feel good about themselves. Being comfortable with one’s body is an important step in
developing a good sense of self.
2. Most people who use steroids do so to enhance athletic performance.
False. Steroids are now being used more for body image concerns in males than for athletic performance. They
are not healthy for either purpose. Numerous health hazards are associated with the use of steroids such as hair
loss, acne, increased irritability and aggressiveness and a bloated appearance (see Section 3 in Background
Information).
3. Healthy eating means eating only low fat foods.
False. Healthy eating means making a variety of food choices from Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating
including both low and high fat foods. Foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, milk, cheese, meat, and
beans make up a healthy eating pattern. Healthy eating also includes eating when you are hungry and stopping
when you are full.
4. Positive self-talk, being confident and connecting with people who make you feel good are ways to increase
self-esteem.
True. Self-esteem is the confidence and satisfaction a person has in themself. When you have healthy self-esteem
you feel more positive about your body. It is important to think about the things that you like about yourself
beyond physical appearance (e.g., being a good basketball player, being a good friend). It is important not to focus
on the individual parts of your body but to focus on your body as a whole.
5. Weight loss diets are healthy.
False. Weight loss diets are unhealthy, especially for adolescents who are still growing. When you are on a
weight loss diet you cannot obtain the proper nutritional requirements and the amount of food needed by the body
to function properly. When dieting, you become preoccupied with food, weight and body shape. To reach and
maintain a healthy weight, adopt healthy eating practices, enjoy physical activity and promote a positive body
image.
6. Anorexia Nervosa only occurs in females.
False. Both males and females can develop Anorexia Nervosa, although eating disorders tend to affect females in
their teenage years most often. It is estimated that 5% of those suffering from eating disorders are male.
7. Some media messages tell us that we can never be too thin.
True. The media can be a powerful influence on how people see themselves. The media often delivers messages
that “thin is in” and that a large body shape is unacceptable. Often these messages create false images of what
people should look like and glamourize unhealthy images.
continued on next page
Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher’s Resource for Grades 1-8, 2000
Activities, Grade 8
Test Your Knowledge
Answer Sheet for Teachers
8. Significant weight loss, preoccupation with food, feeling cold, and fatigue are some signs of Anorexia
Nervosa.
True. There are many signs and symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa that affect the body and can be dangerous (see
Section 5 in Background Information).
9. Binge eating disorder is a type of dysfunctional eating.
True. Binge eating disorder involves eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, usually alone, without
being able to stop when full. The overeating or bingeing is often accompanied by feeling out of control and
followed by feelings of depression, guilt, or disgust.
10.Binge eating followed by purging, vomiting or using laxatives and weight fluctuation are some signs of
Bulimia Nervosa.
True. Bulimia Nervosa involves a cycle of eating large quantities of food (bingeing), followed by purging through
vomiting or using laxatives. This disorder occurs in approximately 3% of adolescents, most of whom are female.
11.Sports dieting that emphasizes high protein foods will help reach athletic goals.
False. Sports dieting, especially if it excludes or over-emphasizes one food group, is not healthy. A balanced
eating pattern which follows Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating is recommended for overall good health for
everyone.
12.Obsessing about food all the time is an example of dysfunctional eating.
True. Dysfunctional eating includes everything from dieting to Anorexia Nervosa. People can develop many
different eating and weight problems that vary in severity. The body has a natural way of letting us know how
much food to eat. The emphasis should be on trusting the body’s messages to eat when hungry and stop when
full.
13.The more protein you eat, the bigger your muscles will be.
False. Exerting a force against a muscle builds muscle (e.g., weight lifting, walking and cycling). The body needs
protein every day to build and repair tissue. Excess protein will not automatically be converted into muscle tissue;
rather, excess Calories from protein can be converted into fat tissue.
14.Purging does not result in any nutrient imbalances.
False. One of the negative health effects of purging is electrolyte imbalance. Vomiting is one form of purging.
Other negative health effects of vomiting are severe tooth decay, broken blood vessels in the face and eyes, blurred
vision, and kidney and liver damage.
Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher’s Resource for Grades 1-8, 2000
Activities, Grade 8
Name: ________________________________
Does Dieting Work?
Answer the following TRUE or FALSE statements.
True
False
1. Weight loss dieting is good for you.
2. Most dieters keep off the weight they lose.
3. A person’s metabolism slows down when they are on low Calorie diets.
4. Like height, our weight is mostly determined by our genetics.
5. A diet that recommends eating only fruits and vegetables is healthy.
6. I should never eat “sometimes” foods.
7. Weight loss diets can isolate us socially.
8. Body fat is bad for you.
9. Weight loss diets can lead to eating disorders.
10. Slimmer people are always healthier than heavier people.
11. The goals of healthy eating are to lose weight and to be slim.
Now convert each false answer into a true statement and provide an explanation (use back of page to record answers).
For example:
Healthy eating means only eating low fat foods.
False
True statement: Healthy eating means eating a variety of foods.
Explanation: Healthy eating means choosing a variety of foods from Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy
Eating. It is the overall pattern of foods eaten and not any one food, meal or even a day’s meals.
Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher’s Resource for Grades 1-8, 2000
Activities, Grade 8
Does Dieting Work?
Answer Sheet for Teachers
1. Weight loss dieting is good for you.
False. Weight loss dieting is not good for you because it has many unhealthy physical and psychological effects.
For example, dieting increases your chance of becoming malnourished, being tired, gaining weight and can lead to
feelings of low self-esteem when the diet fails.
2. Most dieters keep off the weight they lose.
False. People who go on diets may initially experience quick weight loss due to water and protein losses.
However, severely restricting food intake will result in low energy, limited food choices, and boredom. Plus, one
will likely regain all the lost weight and more very quickly. Only 5% of all dieters will maintain their weight loss
after one year.
3. A person’s metabolism slows down when they are on low Calorie diets.
True. Metabolism slows down when Calories are low. This means that your body burns less energy (Calories).
It begins to adjust to the chronically low energy intakes and becomes better at storing Calories as fat. So,
restricting Calories causes an imbalance in your metabolism.
4. Like height, our weight is mostly determined by our genetics.
True. People come in different sizes and shapes. Variations in weight and height are related to the body type you
inherited from your parents. To determine a realistic body weight and height for you, take a look at your family
members. For example, if you are from a genetically heavy-set family, you can expect to have a heavier weight
than someone with thin parents. Weight and height are largely under genetic control. Just as you may wish you
could be 5 inches (13 cm) taller, you may also wish you could be 5 pounds (2 kg) lighter. Just as you must accept
your natural height, you also need to accept your natural weight and refrain from fruitless dieting practices.
5. A diet that recommends eating only fruits and vegetables is healthy.
False. Our bodies need nutrients from different types of food. Fruits and vegetables nourish our bodies with lots
of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre. Our bodies also need Grain Products for energy, Milk Products for calcium
and bone health, and Meat & Alternatives for our organs and muscle function. The key is to follow balanced
eating habits based on Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating.
6. I should never eat “sometimes” foods.
False. Weight loss diets often classify foods as “good” or “bad”, but all foods can be included in a healthy eating
pattern. There is no such thing as a “bad” food. It is okay to eat all foods including chocolate, cake and cookies as
long as they are eaten in moderation. Food should be enjoyed without guilt.
7. Weight loss diets can isolate us socially.
True. Weight loss diets affect us socially as well as physically. People on weight loss diets may become
excessively preoccupied with looks and body image. This, in turn, may lead to social withdrawal such as not
attending parties or no longer hanging out with friends.
continued on next page
Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher’s Resource for Grades 1-8, 2000
Activities, Grade 8
Does Dieting Work?
Answer Sheet for Teachers
8. Body fat is bad for you.
False. Body fat plays an essential role in our bodies. Our bodies need body fat for the proper functioning of cells,
membranes, and the nervous system. Women in general have more body fat than men. Women have additional
body fat that is gender specific fat. This fat is stored in the breasts, thighs, hips and inner legs and is needed for
female reproductive health such as pregnancy.
9. Weight loss diets can lead to eating disorders.
True. Dieting usually makes a person preoccupied with thoughts of food and weight. When a person reaches a
nutritionally deprived state, they usually begin to experience signs of an eating disorder.
10.Slimmer people are always healthier than heavier people.
False. The idea that thinness equals health is a myth. For example, research has shown that people who are too
thin have the greatest risk of early death.
11.The goals of healthy eating are to lose weight and to be slim.
False. Healthy eating and being active will help us feel good about ourselves. We cannot always control our
weight, but we can improve our eating and activity habits. The real solution is to enjoy all foods in moderate
quantities along with regular physical activity.
Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher’s Resource for Grades 1-8, 2000
Activities, Grade 8
Name:
Eating Plan Critic
Checklist
Eating Plan Name (e.g., The Grapefruit Diet)
1. Was a dietitian involved in writing this plan?
2. Does this eating plan promise quick weight loss?
3. Does this eating plan make claims that sound too good to be true?
4. Is the eating plan based on Canada’s Food Guide
to Healthy Eating?
5. Does the eating plan give tips on how to change
eating habits? Give an example.
6. Does the eating plan use food to give you all of
the nutrients you need, rather than pills or meal
replacements?
7. Does the eating plan allow regular meals
and snacks?
8. Does the eating plan recommend regular
physical activity?
9. Are there negative consequences to following
this eating plan for an extended period of time?
10. Are follow-up services available?
Rate this eating plan on its healthfulness. On a scale from one to ten, use ten as “highly recommended” and one as “not
recommended”.
Score
Why did you rate this eating plan this way?
Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher’s Resource for Grades 1-8, 2000
Activities, Grade 8
Name:
Healthy Body Weight Crossword
8
2
4
1
10
6
3
5
7
9
Across
1. Energy from food is burned off when doing this.
3. Physical activity can make you feel more
and tone your muscles.
5. Eating when you are
and stopping when you are full will help keep you at a healthy body
weight for your height.
7. The measure of energy in food.
9. During a growth spurt, growth in height and ________________do not always happen at the same time.
Down
2. Our body shapes are largely determined by our __________________parents.
4. Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating is an education tool that can help you choose a
for healthy eating.
6. Girls and boys your age go through this_________
.
8. One of the heart disease risk factors that you can improve
.
10. Energy from food comes from fat, protein and _________________.
Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher’s Resource for Grades 1-8, 2000
of foods
Activities, Grade 8
Healthy Body Weight Crossword
Answer Sheet for Teachers
8
2
4
1
10
6
3
5
7
9
Across
1. Energy from food is burned off when doing this.
Physical activity
3. Physical activity can make you feel more energetic and tone your muscles.
5. Eating when you are hungry and stopping when you are full will help keep you at a healthy body weight for
your height.
7. Measure of energy in food. Calories
9. During a growth spurt, growth in height and weight do not always happen at the same time.
Down
2. Our body shapes are largely determined by our biological parents.
4. Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating is an education tool that can help you choose a variety of foods for
healthy eating.
6. Girls and boys your age go through this. Growth spurt
8. One of the heart disease risk factors that you can improve. Physical inactivity
10. Energy from food comes from fat, protein and carbohydrate.
Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher’s Resource for Grades 1-8, 2000
Activities, Grade 8
Hunger Scale
Categories
Indicators
Feeling shaky
Temporarily satisfied with a snack
No thoughts
Irritable
May faint
Unable to concentrate
Low energy
Not ready for a meal - satisfied
with nibbles
Getting harder to concentrate
Decreased physical coordination
Not hungry
May feel sleepy
Thinking of food a lot
Hungry enough to eat a meal
May eat for something
to do if upset or bored
Vague thoughts of food
Stomach growling
Experiencing a headache
May have had a meal recently
Nausea, upset stomach
Satisfied
Thinking of food
Hungry
Really Hungry
Starving
Making decisions about what
to eat
Source: Every BODY Is A Somebody, Body Image Coalition of Peel, 1997
Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher’s Resource for Grades 1-8, 2000
Activities, Grade 8
Hunger Scale
Answer Sheet for Teachers
0
Satisfied
Not hungry
No thoughts of food
May have had a meal recently
1 Thinking of food
Vague thoughts of food
Not ready for a meal
May eat for something to do if upset or bored
2
Hungry
Hungry enough to eat a meal
Temporarily satisfied with a snack
Making decisions about what to eat
3
Really Hungry
Thinking of food a lot
Irritable
Stomach growling
Low energy
Nausea, upset stomach
Getting harder to concentrate
4
Starving
Feeling shaky
Decreased physical coordination
Experiencing a headache
Unable to concentrate
May feel sleepy
May faint
Source: Every BODY Is A Somebody, Body Image Coalition of Peel, 1997
Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher’s Resource for Grades 1-8, 2000
Activities, Grade 8
Name: __________________________
Personal Food Plan
Personal Goal:
Meals
Serving Sizes
Food Group
Breakfast
Snack
Lunch
Snack
Dinner
Snack
Challenges
Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher’s Resource for Grades 1-8, 2000
Solutions
Activities, Grade 8
Canada’s Food Guide to
Healthy Eating Check List
Food Group
Number of Servings
Total
Grain Products
(5-12 servings/day)
Vegetables & Fruit
(5-10 servings/day)
Milk Products
(3-4 servings/day)
Meat & Alternatives
(2-3 servings/day)
Other Foods
Note: Shaded area indicates minimum number of servings in
each food group.
Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher’s Resource for Grades 1-8, 2000
Activities, Grade 8
Name:
BALANCE YOUR MEAL
Recipe
Existing food groups
Complete meal with…
Healthy adaptations
Grain Products
Vegetables & Fruit
Meat & Alternatives
milk or yogourt
lean ground beef
Example
spaghetti with
meat sauce
Discover Healthy Eating! A Teacher’s Resource for Grades 1-8, 2000
Activities, Grade 8