Female College Athletes Research Paper

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Sam Johnson

Northcentral University

Are Female College Athletes pressured into dysfunctional eating disorder to maintain thin physical features?

Female student athletes have a dual roll in trying to maintain academic and athletic excellence while in college. These athletes are expected to perform at the highest athletic level possible, and then asked to sustain their physical appearance. “For some female college athletes, such concerns and pressures may contribute to eating disorders or disordered eating behaviors” (Greenleaf et al. 2009, p490). I believe female student athletes shouldn’t feel pressured into complying with society’s needs, by totally ignoring their own.

Greenleaf, C., Petrie, T. A., Carter, J., & Reel, J. J. (2009). Female collegiate athletes: prevalence of eating disorders and
explores the possible harmful eating intake of female student athletes, and how weight issues may play a contributing part to this disorder. The authors will also observe the female student athletes surroundings, which may play a major role in how these students identify themselves as being over weight which could lead to unhealthy dieting. Furthermore, the authors will monitor the mental capacity of these female students’ athletes while trying desperately to lose pounds for their team or individual sport. The authors have decided to use the “Questionnaire for Eating Disorder Diagnosis” (Greenleaf, Petrie, Carter, and Reel, 2009, p490) feeling it gives more precise results than other questionnaires. The survey will use approximately two hundred female student athletes who participate in collegiate team or individual sports, from the southern region of America. Several questions pertaining to weight management, and certain types of eating miscues female student athletes may or may not practice daily, due to self dissatisfaction with their physical