Sports Related Eating Disorders Suffer Immune System

BY: KAT E L I N M AC K E N & S A RA S E I D M A N

SPORTS RELATED EATING DISORDERS SUFFER IMMUNE SYSTEM

EATING DISORDERS DEFINED

• Illness that affects your everyday diet• Teens and young adults• Eat too little/ Over Eat• Distorted Body Image, Depression, Anxiety, Lack of

Control• Anorexia, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Female

Athlete Triad Syndrome• Mostly Women struggle• 33% male athletes

SPORTS RELATED• Anorexia• Fear of weight gain• Amenorrhea • Not willing to maintain healthy body weight• Extreme restricted dieting• Emaciation (extreme thinness)

• Female Athlete Triad Syndrome• Disordered eating, Low bone mass, and Amenorrhea• Cross Country, Gymnastics, and Figure Skating• Energy deficiency • Pressure to be thin in sport

AFFECTS• Affects on Body• Osteoporosis• Electrolyte Imbalance (fatigue, kidney

damage, cardiac arrest/arrhythmia, death)• Cognitive Impairment• Severe Abdominal Pain• Dangerously low heart beat/ blood pressure

BULIMIA NERVOSA• Bulimia • Multiple episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food and feeling

lack of control post episode.• Binge-eating follows forced vomiting, use of laxatives/diuretics,

fasting, and/or excessive exercise• Maintain healthy/normal weight• Several times of week/day

• Physical Affects• Inflamed/ sore throat• Swollen salivary glands in neck/jaw• Decrease in tooth enamel, decaying teeth from stomach acid• Gastrointestinal problems• Irritation from laxative abuse• Severe dehydration from purging• Electrolyte Imbalance

BINGE-EATING DISORDER

• Lose control over eating• Do not purge, excessive exercise or use laxatives• Most overweight/obese• Increase Heart disease and hypertension• Shame, guilt, embarrassment= more over- eating

MALES• Wrestling• Food restriction• Decrease excess Fluid, i.e.- Saunas, Laxatives,

Diuretics, Steam Rooms• Bodybuilding/ Figure Competing• Anorexia (flat muscles, muscle breakdown for energy)• Bulimia• Very hidden• Muscle dysmorphia, “Bigorexia”; Obsession with increasing body size

• Gymnastics• Swimming• Rowing

FEMALES

• Cross Country • Gymnastics

• Ballet• Figure/Bikini Competing

• Swimming

IMMUNE SYSTEM

• Purpose• Defend body against attack of “foreign invaders”• Viruses• I.e. Bacteria, Parasites, Fungi• Both cause infections if not treated

• Crippled Immune System• Cause disorders, allergic diseases, • arthritis, diabetes, etc.

IMMUNITY DYSFUNCTION

• Decrease in white blood cells

• 1/3 victims =Anemic• Deficiency in oxygen carrying component of blood• Hold onto fat cells, burn muscle cells

• Person is vulnerable to infections

IMMUNITY DYSFUNCTION

• Purging decreases nutrition• Releases vitamins and minerals person takes in• Vitamins and minerals protect Immune system• More susceptible to viruses/diseases

BEING PROACTIVE

• Loved one on verge of eating disorder• Promote healthy eating, not dieting• Don’t forbid certain foods• Eat together as a family: Make meal time Pleasant!• Praise children/friends for who they are, allowing them to

become happy and confident about their appearance• Do not pick on family members/friends on appareance

FACT

• 3 Risk Factors for Developing Eating Disorder• A mother that diets• A sister who diets• Friends who diet

HELP

• NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association)• http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/find-help-support • 1-800-931-2237

SOURCES

• http://loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org/factsheet_2.html• http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-

disorders/index.shtml• http://www.femaleathletetriad.org/for-athletes-coaches/

what-is-the-triad/• http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/89260-overview• http://www.edcdenver.com/articles/is-bodybuilding-a-

gateway-to-eating-disorders• http://beforeitsnews.com/health/2012/10/long-term-and-

side-effects-from-bulimia-nervosa-2451414.html• http://www.anred.com/prev.html