Today’s demands to excel, sometimes at too young of an age, are putting a lot of pressure on many athletes who struggle with managing their competitive emotions and find in food one of the few things they can have control over. Eating disorder is on the rise and a lot of the understanding behind this concerning phenomena is linked to having to meet very high expectations in order to succeed.
Some sports that are inclined to empathize thinness as a positive trait. Gymnastics, skating, swimming, rowing, riding, and running are known for putting excessive pressure on weight. About 63% of all female athletes develop eating disorders between the 9th and 12th grade. Coaches, parents, and even judges, often send direct or indirect messages to athletes where their final outcome is linked to their body image.
We are already familiar with the negative effects that anorexia and bulimia have on the body. But, we also need to know that disordered eating has equal negative physiological consequences. Disordered eating refers to restricting food intake, skipping meals, avoiding eating with others, going into frequent diets, or any behavior that continually and purposely aims at changing eating habits just to perform in sports.
Eating well and empathizing body strength and fitness should be the ultimate goal. Every person who is involved in the outcome of an athlete must stay away from addressing thinness as the needed requirement to improve performance. It is paramount that coaches be educated in understanding eating disorders and refer to professional consultants when he/she sees symptoms that may lead to building an eating disorder. They need to also educate the athletes to feel comfortable enough so they come forward to share with the coach performing or life issues that are affecting their healthy eating habits.
Parents should find out if the coach has received any kind of training concerning eating disorders. Parents cannot be with their children all the time, but coaches are. They can be the educated eye that can make a huge difference between having or not a healthy young athlete.
To perform well, you need to eat well.
1- Educate the young athlete about the importance to stay fit rather than being thin;
2- Seek coaches who are educated in eating disorders and/or have them be accountable for sending the right message to the athlete.