Eating Disorders In Female Athletes Essay

Grant Pagan
ENGL 1101.4
Dr. Hodgens
Concept Essay: Eating disorders in female athletes
October 22, 2014
Eating Disorders in Female Athletes During the past thirty years, there has been a substantial growth in women’s participation in sports due to the average female wanting to look a certain way. In these thirty years, many female athletes have struggled with eating disorders. These athletes are trying to fit the “norm.” Society creates the image that women should be thin and small. In recent studies, female athletes struggle with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. These eating disorders can cause detrimental health effects and have a negative effect on an athlete’s ability to preform. Preventing eating disorders in female athletes is an ongoing concern for coaches, athletic trainers, and others involved in the care of the athletes. There are many ways to prevent these disorders and many coaches and trainers are working very hard to help. To obtain good eating habits, female athletes should start the process of preventing eating disorders by beginning with a strict diet with constant monitoring. The next steps in the process are exercising, dieting, and the continuation of working with the trainers.
The process is over when the athlete stops playing sports or decides that she does not have to fit the “norm.” About four percent of college female athletes have engaged in disordered eating behaviors, which is a disorder in where the diet or the process of eating is disrupted. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating are the most common eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that makes people lose more weight then considered healthy for the average human. Bulimia nervosa is an illness in which a person binges on food or overeats and looses control. The individual then uses different methods such as vomiting or abusing laxatives. Binge eating is when a person has episodes of uncontrollable eating. Not only are eating disorders a serious issue, but also they can lead to very serious illnesses. According to Cherilyn McLester, “Most importantly, professionals involved with the care of female athletes need to understand that there is an important relationship between female athletes and eating disorders” (McLester, 2). Most eating disorders come from a female’s perspective on looking good and fitting in. According to these two traits, many female athletes will starve themselves or make themselves throw up after eating. Early detection in any slight abnormal eating habits will help a female athlete improve their game but also live a healthy lifestyle. There are many effects that disordered eating habits can have on athletes. These disorders can cause detrimental effects on their game. Not eating healthy causes a lack of energy and also a lack of focus while playing the game (Van, 2). Athletes are always under pressure because they have people looking up to them and also they have to perform well. Most importantly, male and female athletes are expected to have the best physique. Usually male athletes resort to extreme behaviors to fulfill what critics have set upon them. Extreme perceptions of having to fulfill everybody’s expectations put too much pressure on athletes. Athletes are put in the sports world to compete to the best of their ability and be in the best shape they can be in, while maintaining a lifestyle that’s benefits them and their health. Not eating can cause many effects, like starvation, and we need to stop looking at the physical attributes and look at how they are doing in the game. The sports that are dangerous for women to participate in, according to Greenleaf, are the sports that emphasize weight requirements, sports that focus on the individual participating rather than the whole team, and endurance sports (Greenleaf, 1). These all have risk factors that are the worst for women who have eating disorders. All of the sports that are included in these categories are gymnastics, dance, and ballet, which focus on every single characteristic that could start an eating disorder. Many ballet dancers, dancers, and gymnast are thin and small. Most of these athletes are thin and small but they are healthy. All of these can give an athlete the physical look, but at least these individuals are doing it in a healthy way. If people would focus more on their ability to perform, instead of the physical appearance, athletes would not have as much stress on them.
Yes, they will still have to compete well and put it all on the line while they are in the game, but physical appearance would not be looked so strongly looked upon. This is because people would see that female athletes are doing these things in a healthy way and getting proper exercise. The prevention of eating disorders in athletes can only be stopped if they are found early or if the athlete goes to a professional for help. Many athletes will go through a period where all of their results are failures. Perhaps, this will show them that poor nutrition and eating disorders will only ruin their athletic
careers.
Works Cited
Greenleaf, Christy, et al. "Female Collegiate Athletes: Prevalence Of Eating Disorders And Disordered Eating Behaviors." Journal Of American College Health 57.5 (2009): 489-496. SPORTDiscus with Full Text. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.
McLester, Cherilyn N., Robin Hardin, and Stephanie Hoppe. "Susceptibility To Eating Disorders Among Collegiate Female Student-Athletes." Journal Of Athletic Training 49.3 (2014): 406-410. SPORTDiscus with Full Text. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.
Van Zyl, Y., J. Surujlal, and M. Dhurup. "Eating Disorders Among University Student-Athletes." African Journal For Physical, Health Education, Recreation & Dance 18.2 (2012): 267-280. SPORTDiscus with Full Text. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.