Eating Disorders in Female College Athletes
Reaching Female College Athletes:
Nutrition and Eating Disorders in Female College Athletes
Stephanie J. Watson, B.S.
Indiana State University
Nutrition and Eating Disorders in Female College Athletes
Athletes tend to be highly competitive, highly-achieving, and self-disciplined individuals (Mahan and Escott-Stump, 2000). Similar personality traits are seen in people with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). A lean body type is associated with enhanced strength and performance in many competitive sports, and this is true for both male and female athletes. In addition, female athletes have to deal with physical appearance. To attain low body weight, athletes may increase training and decrease food intake. We tend to think of athletes, especially those at collegiate or elite levels of competition as being “healthy” (Thompson and Sherman, 1999). This assumption of healthy may in part be created by their athletic performance or by what they are able and willing to endure through training and conditioning. This level of physical strictness gets interpreted as healthy. Yet in the name of commitment and competition, athletes engage in behaviors that are far from healthy, this has become of increasing concern as a growing subpopulation of athletes is suffering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other disordered eating patterns.
Background
Anorexia nervosa is defined by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) (2010) as a serious life-threatening disorder characterized by deliberate self-starvation and the following: a) Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height (<85% expected); b) Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat; even though underweight; c) A disturbance in the way one’s body weight/shape is experienced (self-evaluation, denial); d) Amenorrhea (absence of at least 3 consecutive periods).
Anorexia nervosa is then subdivided into a restricting type and a binge
Nutrition and Eating Disorders in Female College Athletes
Stephanie J. Watson, B.S.
Indiana State University
Nutrition and Eating Disorders in Female College Athletes
Athletes tend to be highly competitive, highly-achieving, and self-disciplined individuals (Mahan and Escott-Stump, 2000). Similar personality traits are seen in people with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). A lean body type is associated with enhanced strength and performance in many competitive sports, and this is true for both male and female athletes. In addition, female athletes have to deal with physical appearance. To attain low body weight, athletes may increase training and decrease food intake. We tend to think of athletes, especially those at collegiate or elite levels of competition as being “healthy” (Thompson and Sherman, 1999). This assumption of healthy may in part be created by their athletic performance or by what they are able and willing to endure through training and conditioning. This level of physical strictness gets interpreted as healthy. Yet in the name of commitment and competition, athletes engage in behaviors that are far from healthy, this has become of increasing concern as a growing subpopulation of athletes is suffering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other disordered eating patterns.
Background
Anorexia nervosa is defined by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) (2010) as a serious life-threatening disorder characterized by deliberate self-starvation and the following: a) Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height (<85% expected); b) Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat; even though underweight; c) A disturbance in the way one’s body weight/shape is experienced (self-evaluation, denial); d) Amenorrhea (absence of at least 3 consecutive periods).
Anorexia nervosa is then subdivided into a restricting type and a binge