SPRT.2045 The Cult of Exercise
What happens when people take exercise and fitness to the extreme? This course will examine exercise and physical fitness from both psychological and physiological perspectives, with a particular focus on women and the fitness industry. This course will be presented in three parts: (I) physical fitness as a business; (II) consumption of physical fitness; and (III) female health and wellness. Students will research and critique popular organizations within the fitness industry, discuss societal implications of engaging in exercise, and examine psychological considerations as it pertains to the body, gender, and overall health. Other topics discussed will include eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related syndromes, and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). Additionally, students will have the opportunity to identify and research an exercise trend or fitness activity from a non-Westernized group.
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