Anorexia Nervosa
This disorder is predominately seen in females and is characterized by:
- Restricting calorie or food intake
- Refusal to maintain a healthy body weight usually 15% below normal body weight
- Body dismorphia
- Fear of gaining weight
There is no definite cause as of yet for this disorder, however, there is research being done within the medical and psychological fields to better understand the cause of this disorder.
Some experts feel that demands from society and families could possibly be underlying causes for anorexia. For many individuals with anorexia, the destructive cycle begins with the pressure to be thin and attractive. A poor self-image compounds the problem.
Studies have shown that athletes are far more prone to developing eating disorders than non-athletes. Athletes face additional pressures related to performance and, for some, aesthetic demands. For some athletes, such as distance runners, sprinters and swimmers, low body weight is thought to confer a competitive advantage. On the other hand, competitors in sports where a subjective judging element is involved, such as gymnastics, diving, skating and dancing may feel that their body size will influence their score. And certain sports where weight categories are involved, such as wrestling and rowing, can lead to cycles of weight gain followed by sudden weight loss.
Anorexia nervosa is a complex psychological illness that can have devastating physical consequences. Twenty percent of anorexics die of their illness, many from heart attacks and starvation. The self-starvation that occurs in anorexia nervosa can lead to:
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Heart damage
- Liver damage
- Infertility
- Personality changes
- Kidney damage
- Osteoporosis
- Damage to the immune system
- Starvation
- Permanent health damage
- Death
Prevention is the key to addressing the problem of disordered eating, and education is a necessary first step. Athletes, parents, coaches, athletic administrators, training staff and doctors need to be educated about the risks and warning signals of disordered eating.
Treatment may include individual psychotherapy, group therapy, nutritional counseling, peer support groups, medication, and behavioral therapy. Treatment programs take several forms:
In-patient /Residential treatment: for patients who require close monitoring or medical treatment, or who do not have access to out-patient treatment programs in their own community
Out-patient treatment: for patients who are able to remain in their own homes during treatment without risk to their health
Bulimia
This eating disorder is characterized by:
- Excessive weight loss or gain
- Being overly concerned with one's weight
- Visiting the bathroom after meals
- Depression
- Excessive dieting, followed by binge eating
- Always criticizing one's body
- Self Induced vomiting
This eating disorder can also cause major medical complications and can be potentially fatal. Some of the medical complications include:
- Anemia
- Heart failure
- Esophageal tears
- Cavities, gum disease, tooth enamel erosion
- Dehydration
- Ulcers, stomach rupture
Eating disorders in an athlete are serious and can become life-threatening if left untreated. Bulimia is a serious health concern that often requires professional help to overcome. Identifying the type of eating disorder is essential to get the right help.
As with Anorexia Nervosa prevention is key and treatment include: Psychotherapy, which is a common component of treatment for eating disorders, eating disorders are isolating. Generally, it helps to involve friends or family in the treatment process. Also as with Anorexia Nervosa:
In-patient /Residential treatment: for patients who require close monitoring or medical treatment, or who do not have access to out-patient treatment programs in their own community
Out-patient treatment: for patients who are able to remain in their own homes during treatment without risk to their health
Disordered Eating
This type of eating disorder typically goes somewhat unnoticed, due to not being quite severe enough to meet the eating disorder criteria. This type of eating disorder does include:
- Extreme weight cutting
- YO-YO dieting
- Fasting
- Binge eating
Just because this type of eating disorder is not as severe as a classified eating disorder it still comes with its health risks and those health risks include the same health risks as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia.
There are a number of factors which contribute to this disorder which include:
Weight restrictions and standards; a lot of sports have weight classes which have to be met in order to compete.
Coach and peer pressure; we see this especially in gymnastics, where the coach puts a lot of pressure on the athlete to maintain a low body weight.
Sociocultural factors; we see this in our everyday lives, especially in the media. The media usually sets the standard for what the ideal body type is.
Performance demands; this goes along with weight classes and restrictions, most coaches assume that lower body fat and body weight will produce optimal performance.
Judging criteria; this is a factor that should not contribute to the scoring of an athlete, however judges tend to be biased in their judging and tend to favor more slender and athletic body types.
