Prevention of eating disorders in gymnasts

Prevention of eating disorders in gymnasts

Prevention is the best way to stop eating disorders, and the first item on the agenda is education. Athletes, parents, coaches, sports administrators, training staff and physicians must be fully informed about the risks and warning signs of eating disorders. The warning signs of an eating disorder are:

1.) An obsession with food, calories and weight.

2.) Constant worry that you are fat despite having an average or below average body weight.

3.) Continuous and increased criticism of your own body.

4.) Obtain and consume food secretly.

5.) Enjoy large amounts of food and then go to the bathroom.

6.) Eat large amounts of foods that conflict with your own weight.

7.) Bloodshot eyes, especially after leaving the bathroom.

8.) Enlarged parotid glands in the corner of the jaw that look like a chipmunk.

9.) Vomiting or the smell of vomit in the bathroom.

10.) Weight rises and falls over a short period of time.

11.) Severely restricted calorie intake.

12.) Excessive use of laxatives, even when not necessary.

13.) Excessive training, even if not included in the athlete's training.

14.) Refrain from eating in front of other people.

15.) Constantly making derogatory comments about yourself immediately after eating.

16.) Wear loose and shapeless clothing.

17.) Mood swings

18.) Extreme interest in other people's eating habits.

19.) Too much water or diet soda.

If you become aware that your child or someone else may have an eating disorder, you must approach the situation sensitively. Anorexia or bulimia sufferers usually vehemently deny that anything is wrong and that they have a problem. Let them know that you are concerned about their symptoms of dizziness, constant fatigue, and frequent distraction. Use these symptoms to seek help. Don't mention anything related to bingeing or purging or even eating disorders. Instead, emphasize your concern for their physical and mental health. Provide her with sources from which she can seek professional help. A gymnast may deny that she has a problem, but deep down she may be asking for help.

Where and how you can get help

Ask your doctor about clinics or hospitals in your area that specialize in treating eating disorders. You may need both medical and psychological help and participate in therapy with the whole family. You can also check out these resources:

1.) The Eating Disorders Association, Sackville Place, 44 Magdalen Street, Norwich, Norfolk NR3lJE. Telephone (0603) 621414. This is an umbrella organization that coordinates with a network of local groups run by former patients with anorexia and bulimia. It offers information, telephone help and a newsletter. Send an sae for local group details.

2.) Overeaters Anonymous, PO Box 19, Stratford, Manchester M32 9EB. A self-help organization for men and women with eating disorders that uses a "12-step" recovery program modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous. They can connect you with the one closest to you of more than 100 groups across the country.

There continues to be an increase in eating disorders among athletes, particularly those requiring a light build. Sports with a higher incidence of eating disorders include figure skating, gymnastics, dancing and synchronized swimming compared to basketball, volleyball and skiing. In a 1992 study by the American College of Sports Medicine, 62% of women in sports such as gymnastics and figure skating had eating disorders.

Due to the desire to be thin or to gain approval from judges or their coach, many female athletes succumb to eating disorders. A majority of coaches can trigger advent eating disorders by criticizing the athlete's weight or pressuring them to lose a few pounds. This type of treatment causes the athlete to resort to unhealthy eating habits and crash diets, which can have detrimental effects, both physically and emotionally.

Athletes are under constant pressure to stay thin, especially in sports that specialize in aesthetic and technical skills. This is because most judges consider body weight as one of the factors when deciding aesthetic evaluation. Christy Henrich, a world-class gymnast, was once criticized by a judge in a 1998 Budapest competition for being too fat and had to lose weight to make the Olympic team. Henrich turned to anorexia and bulimia to lose weight. In fact, at one point she only weighed 47 pounds. Ultimately, her eating disorders caused her death. Christy Henrich died of multiple organ failure on July 26, 1994 at the age of 22.

An eating disorder poses a danger to athletes because they are more susceptible to medical complications such as electrolyte imbalances and cardiac arrhythmias. A very low calorie intake combined with strenuous physical activities puts a lot of strain on your body. Like Christy Henrich, she is at higher risk of cardiac arrest. It is difficult to convince gymnasts that they have eating disorders because they view extreme weight loss as beneficial to their athletic performance.

Looking at gymnasts' heights over the years, the dramatic drop in weight and body mass went from a standard height of 5'3" and weighing 105 lbs. to a staggeringly stunted 4'8" and 88 lbs. in 1976. It is fortunate that the organizations involved in international gymnastics want to curb this alarming trend. They have decided that girls must be at least 16 years old to compete in international gymnastics. Currently, girls in competition have healthier weights and mass.

The need to educate parents, coaches and trainers becomes even more evident as they must be aware of whether the child has developed an unhealthy obsession with nutrition, dieting and over-training that goes beyond the reputation of their sport.

Part of the gymnastics training program should include lectures from nutritionists to educate the young athletes about proper nutrition and why healthy eating is necessary to strengthen a body exposed to such strenuous activities. It is also important that gymnasts who already have eating disorders are encouraged and supported to seek help and that counseling is available to them if they do. Gymnasts suffering from eating disorders need to feel confident that they will not face criticism or derogatory treatment if they come forward and acknowledge their need for help.

Inspired by Abid Hussain