Eating Disorders in Athletes
Most people associate sports and athletes with health and well being. Unfortunately for some athletes this is not always the case. Athletes face great pressures which put them at risk for developing eating disorders.
Although anyone can develop an eating disorder certain factors tend to place an athlete at greater risk. Qualities which predispose an individual to an eating disorder are often qualities which make a good athlete as well. These include compliance, the ability to work hard (overwork), the ability to obsess on a goal, perfectionism, a high need for achievement, and the ability to withstand pain or discomfort. When an individual with these traits is placed in a sport environment where thinness and low body fat composition is emphasized it greatly increases the likelihood that the person may develop an eating disorder.
Certain sports have a higher demand for thinness than others. Ballerinas and long distance runners face a demand for a thin body. Sports such as gymnastics, diving and figure skating not only require thinness but are scored on appearance criteria ( form) as well. Wrestlers and jockeys are often required to "weigh in" and are not allowed to compete unless they "make" a certain weight.
The proverbial "chicken -or- the-egg question" comes to mind. Do these sports create eating disordered individuals or are eating disordered individuals attracted to these sports? The answer is a complex one. Often an individual is predisposed to develop an eating disorder but does not become symptomatic until they begin training. For those with an already existing disorder the sports world allows these individuals to "hide". Overexercise is admired and encouraged. As a society we have come to expect certain athletes to "look the part". Basketball players are expected to be tall, jockeys are expected to be short, distance runners are expected to be thin. Therefore it becomes difficult to notice when a dancer, runner, or gymnast is too thin. These standards can make it difficult to identify a problem and therefore delay treatment and intervention. Even the individual with the disorder may use the sport world criteria to rationalize what they know deep down is abnormal behavior.
Pressure from coaches to lose weight can be a significant factor in the development of an eating disorder. The problem lies in the myths that exist regarding the correlation between weight loss and enhanced performance. Unfortunately the "ideal weights" espoused by coaches often are significantly lower than weights for optimal health. The power of a coach to influence an athletes behavior cannot be underestimated. This, coupled with an athletes perfectionism, can lead to unhealthy food restriction. In some athletes this restriction can lead to anorexia or a pattern of bingeing and purging.
Many coaches and athletes do not understand the difference between body weight and body fat. One cannot tell body fat composition by observation alone. Often a frustrated coach will decide poor performance is due to extra weight. This assumption may often be erroneous. Athletes frequently have large muscle mass. They may look heavy and weigh alot and still have relatively low body fat. If an athlete such as this attempted to lose weight by dieting they would lose lean tissue and fluid as well as body fat. When weight is lost rapidly this can result in even greater decreases in lean tissue and fluid. In many cases this can result in a decrease in athletic performance. Decreases in performance are much more likely when pathological methods of weight loss such as vomiting, laxatives, or diuretics are used.
Our youth are in trouble when they are given the message that their athletic performance is more important than their health. The healthy range of body fat is 14% to !6% for males and 20% to 22% for females. Most young women require at least 17% body fat for the onset of menses to occur and 22% for regular ovulation. Many athletes cite 10% or less as the body fat level they strive for. Although not every athlete who is asked to lose weight or decrease body fat will develop an eating disorder this request certainly increases the probability for individuals who are already predisposed. It is important that coaches, trainers, and instructors as well as the athletes themselves become better educated in the factors which can lead to the development of eating disorders. A priority must be placed on the athletes health rather than on performance. Training in detection and intervention with athletes with eating disorders is also essential for coaches. Knowledge regarding proper diet and nutrition and appropriate body fat levels is necessary. With increased knowledge and awareness hopefully far fewer athletes will develop and suffer from eating disorders.
Although anyone can develop an eating disorder certain factors tend to place an athlete at greater risk. Qualities which predispose an individual to an eating disorder are often qualities which make a good athlete as well. These include compliance, the ability to work hard (overwork), the ability to obsess on a goal, perfectionism, a high need for achievement, and the ability to withstand pain or discomfort. When an individual with these traits is placed in a sport environment where thinness and low body fat composition is emphasized it greatly increases the likelihood that the person may develop an eating disorder.
Certain sports have a higher demand for thinness than others. Ballerinas and long distance runners face a demand for a thin body. Sports such as gymnastics, diving and figure skating not only require thinness but are scored on appearance criteria ( form) as well. Wrestlers and jockeys are often required to "weigh in" and are not allowed to compete unless they "make" a certain weight.
The proverbial "chicken -or- the-egg question" comes to mind. Do these sports create eating disordered individuals or are eating disordered individuals attracted to these sports? The answer is a complex one. Often an individual is predisposed to develop an eating disorder but does not become symptomatic until they begin training. For those with an already existing disorder the sports world allows these individuals to "hide". Overexercise is admired and encouraged. As a society we have come to expect certain athletes to "look the part". Basketball players are expected to be tall, jockeys are expected to be short, distance runners are expected to be thin. Therefore it becomes difficult to notice when a dancer, runner, or gymnast is too thin. These standards can make it difficult to identify a problem and therefore delay treatment and intervention. Even the individual with the disorder may use the sport world criteria to rationalize what they know deep down is abnormal behavior.
Pressure from coaches to lose weight can be a significant factor in the development of an eating disorder. The problem lies in the myths that exist regarding the correlation between weight loss and enhanced performance. Unfortunately the "ideal weights" espoused by coaches often are significantly lower than weights for optimal health. The power of a coach to influence an athletes behavior cannot be underestimated. This, coupled with an athletes perfectionism, can lead to unhealthy food restriction. In some athletes this restriction can lead to anorexia or a pattern of bingeing and purging.
Many coaches and athletes do not understand the difference between body weight and body fat. One cannot tell body fat composition by observation alone. Often a frustrated coach will decide poor performance is due to extra weight. This assumption may often be erroneous. Athletes frequently have large muscle mass. They may look heavy and weigh alot and still have relatively low body fat. If an athlete such as this attempted to lose weight by dieting they would lose lean tissue and fluid as well as body fat. When weight is lost rapidly this can result in even greater decreases in lean tissue and fluid. In many cases this can result in a decrease in athletic performance. Decreases in performance are much more likely when pathological methods of weight loss such as vomiting, laxatives, or diuretics are used.
Our youth are in trouble when they are given the message that their athletic performance is more important than their health. The healthy range of body fat is 14% to !6% for males and 20% to 22% for females. Most young women require at least 17% body fat for the onset of menses to occur and 22% for regular ovulation. Many athletes cite 10% or less as the body fat level they strive for. Although not every athlete who is asked to lose weight or decrease body fat will develop an eating disorder this request certainly increases the probability for individuals who are already predisposed. It is important that coaches, trainers, and instructors as well as the athletes themselves become better educated in the factors which can lead to the development of eating disorders. A priority must be placed on the athletes health rather than on performance. Training in detection and intervention with athletes with eating disorders is also essential for coaches. Knowledge regarding proper diet and nutrition and appropriate body fat levels is necessary. With increased knowledge and awareness hopefully far fewer athletes will develop and suffer from eating disorders.