Eating Disorders Among Athletes Presentation by: Julie Cassara Hildeberto Campos Carolyn Gonzalez Gus M. Lasam Return to main page Return to main page.

Eating Disorders Among Eating Disorders Among AthletesAthletes

Presentation by:Presentation by:

Julie CassaraJulie Cassara

Hildeberto CamposHildeberto Campos

Carolyn GonzalezCarolyn Gonzalez

Gus M. LasamGus M. Lasam

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IntroductionIntroduction

Eating disorders, specifically anorexia and bulimia, continue to be on Eating disorders, specifically anorexia and bulimia, continue to be on the rise among athletes in the sports of figure skating, wrestling and the rise among athletes in the sports of figure skating, wrestling and

gymnastics.gymnastics.


OutlineOutline

FindingsFindingsCausesCauses

StatisticsStatisticsPreventionPreventionTreatmentTreatment


FindingsFindings

Most Common Types of Most Common Types of Eating Disorders in SportsEating Disorders in Sports

Anorexia NervosaAnorexia Nervosa

Bulimia NervosaBulimia Nervosa


Psychological Characteristics Psychological Characteristics of Anorexicsof Anorexics

Preoccupied with dieting and being thin leading to excessive Preoccupied with dieting and being thin leading to excessive weight loss.weight loss.

Have intense fear of fat and becoming fat.Have intense fear of fat and becoming fat. Preoccupation with food and weight loss mask underlying Preoccupation with food and weight loss mask underlying

psychological problems.psychological problems.


Psychological Characteristics Psychological Characteristics of Bulimicsof Bulimics

Frequent episodes of binge eating.Frequent episodes of binge eating. Exercise compulsively.Exercise compulsively. Fasting.Fasting. Abuse laxatives/diuretics.Abuse laxatives/diuretics.


Psychological Characteristics Psychological Characteristics of Bulimicsof Bulimics

Purging involves vomiting.Purging involves vomiting. Often feels guilty after eating a meal.Often feels guilty after eating a meal. No visible physical characteristics.No visible physical characteristics. Uses self-destructive eating behavior to mask Uses self-destructive eating behavior to mask

psychological problems.psychological problems.


Types of Sports With High Types of Sports With High Risks for Eating Disorders Risks for Eating Disorders

GymnasticsGymnastics WrestlingWrestling BoxingBoxing Figure skatingFigure skating


CausesCauses

Causes in GymnasticsCauses in Gymnastics

Standards Set by SocietyStandards Set by SocietyPressure from ParentsPressure from ParentsPressure from CoachesPressure from CoachesPressure from JudgesPressure from Judges


Standards Set by SocietyStandards Set by Society

““In 1976, the average gymnast was 5’3” tallIn 1976, the average gymnast was 5’3” tallweighting 105 pounds, and in 1992, the averageweighting 105 pounds, and in 1992, the average

gymnast was 4’9” weighing 88 pounds.” gymnast was 4’9” weighing 88 pounds.”


Pressure from ParentsPressure from Parents

Parents who are competitive, controlling orParents who are competitive, controlling orperfectionists tend to push these behaviors onperfectionists tend to push these behaviors on

their children.their children.


Pressure from CoachesPressure from Coaches

Coaches are guilty of criticizing gymnasts for theCoaches are guilty of criticizing gymnasts for theneed to be thin. A lot of the time coaches seeneed to be thin. A lot of the time coaches see

their athletes’ physiques as a reflection oftheir athletes’ physiques as a reflection ofthemselves.themselves.


Pressure from JudgesPressure from Judges

Judges consider thinness a factor when scoring forJudges consider thinness a factor when scoring for

technical and artistic ability.technical and artistic ability.

““In 1988, at a meet in Budapest, a US judge toldIn 1988, at a meet in Budapest, a US judge told

Christy Hendrich, one of the world’s topChristy Hendrich, one of the world’s top

gymnasts, that she was too fat and needed to losegymnasts, that she was too fat and needed to lose

weight if she hoped to make the Olympic squad.”weight if she hoped to make the Olympic squad.”Return to main pageReturn to main page

Causes Lead to ConsequencesCauses Lead to Consequences

““On July 26, 1994, at age 22, Christy Hendrich died of multiple organ failure. She On July 26, 1994, at age 22, Christy Hendrich died of multiple organ failure. She weighed only 47 pounds.”weighed only 47 pounds.”


StatisticsStatistics

Population and Eating Population and Eating DisordersDisorders

Eating disorders among males and Eating disorders among males and females are more prevalent among females are more prevalent among athletes then non athletes.athletes then non athletes.

Eating disorders have a higher Eating disorders have a higher prevalence in the female athlete prevalence in the female athlete population, than in the male athlete population, than in the male athlete population.population.


Eating Disorders and Eating Disorders and GendersGenders

The occurrence of eating disorders cases The occurrence of eating disorders cases among female athletes is of 90 – 95%among female athletes is of 90 – 95%

Among females Anorexia Nervosa and Among females Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are more prevalentBulimia Nervosa are more prevalent

Among males self-induced vomiting, Among males self-induced vomiting, binging, abuse of laxatives and diuretics is binging, abuse of laxatives and diuretics is more prevalentmore prevalent


Females and Anorexia Females and Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa and Bulimia

NervosaNervosa In the female In the female

population the population the percentages of percentages of Bulimia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa is higher than is higher than that of Anorexia that of Anorexia NervosaNervosa

3% of women 3% of women between the between the ages of 13 and 30 ages of 13 and 30 are bulimic, while are bulimic, while 1% are Anorexic1% are Anorexic

Females and Anorexia Females and Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa…continuedNervosa…continued

10 to 20% of all 10 to 20% of all anorexic patients anorexic patients admitted to the admitted to the hospital for hospital for anorexia will anorexia will eventually die from eventually die from itit


PreventionPrevention

TreatmentTreatment

Warning Signs, Prevention and

Treatment of Eating Disorders

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Warning SignsWarning Signs

Excessive exercise outside of routine Excessive exercise outside of routine training periodtraining period

Withdrawal from teammatesWithdrawal from teammates Inability to complete workouts Inability to complete workouts Menstrual irregularitiesMenstrual irregularities Loss of concentrationLoss of concentration Restrictive dietingRestrictive dieting


More Warning SignsMore Warning Signs Purging through Purging through

vomiting,diuretics or vomiting,diuretics or laxativeslaxatives

Chronic fatigueChronic fatigue Weight lossWeight loss Changes in moodChanges in mood FaintingFainting Light-headednessLight-headedness Decreased staminaDecreased stamina


PreventionPrevention One should be prepared to recognize and educate One should be prepared to recognize and educate

athletes on the symptoms and warning signs of eating athletes on the symptoms and warning signs of eating disorders.disorders.

Educate athletes on the physical risks of maintaining Educate athletes on the physical risks of maintaining a low body weight.a low body weight.

Set realistic goals, taking into account the individual Set realistic goals, taking into account the individual athlete’s body type and shape.athlete’s body type and shape.


Promote total and healthy Promote total and healthy nutritionnutrition

Eliminate public weight-in and Eliminate public weight-in and body-fat analysesbody-fat analyses

Provide a resource for Provide a resource for emotional counselingemotional counseling

Encourage positive self-image Encourage positive self-image and self –esteemand self –esteem


More PreventionsMore Preventions

Do not overplay the impact of weight on athletic Do not overplay the impact of weight on athletic performanceperformance

Recognize when healthy training regiments turn into Recognize when healthy training regiments turn into obsessive regimentsobsessive regiments

Eliminate ridiculing or flippant remarks about body Eliminate ridiculing or flippant remarks about body shape or weightshape or weight


TreatmentTreatment HospitalizationHospitalization MedicationMedication Dental workDental work Individual counselingIndividual counseling Group counselingGroup counseling Family counselingFamily counseling


ConclusionConclusion

The key is Awareness of…The key is Awareness of…

SymptomsSymptoms

ConsequencesConsequences

UnderstandingUnderstanding

EducationEducation

Bottom line is…Bottom line is…


CommunicationCommunication

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