Vents MagaZine Music and Entertainment Magazine
Related Articles
Sports and other athletic endeavors are a wonderful way for adolescents to develop physically and increase their skills in teamwork, leadership, and perseverance.Sports can be a distraction, but they are just as likely to provide discipline that can help in schoolwork and later in life. Unfortunately, sports can sometimes put an unhealthy emphasis on body size and weight, and this can lead to the development of an eating or exercise disorder. Eating disorder treatment centers normally have ample cause to include specialized programs for athletes who have begun to show disordered behaviors.
Athletes and Eating Disorders
Although eating disorders statistically affect girls more often than boys, both groups are at risk of developing an eating disorder during adolescence, especially those involved in competitive sports. Research shows when young people participate in sports or other activities that focus on weight requirements and/or personal appearance, they may have a higher risk of developing an eating disorder. Although every sport can trigger an eating or exercise disorder, some prime examples of these kinds of sports include:
- Horseback Riding
- Gymnastics
- Ballet and Dance
- Running
- Figure skating
- Rowing
- Swimming and Diving
- Wrestling
Parents, Coaches, and Instructors Should Be Aware of These Early Warning Signs
The signs of an eating disorder in an adolescent who’s active in competitive sports can be hard to detect; many weight-loss techniques are incorporated into sports that have weight requirements, which can mask disordered eating symptoms. Paying attention to early warning signs is the best way to prevent more serious complications in the future and stop the disorder from worsening Some common eating disorder warning signs that loved ones should be aware of include:
Obsessive Training and Food Restriction
Every coach and trainer worth their salt understands and promotes the importance of adequate nutrition when it comes to building muscle and maintaining energy. That said, some sports have strict weight restrictions which can lead to disordered eating behaviors. As a parent, if you see that your child is counting calories obsessively, purging prior to a weigh-in, or excessively training (i.e. running for hours every day regardless of injury or inclement weather) or removing certain foods from their diet entirely, there is cause for concern. Please note the latter point does not refer to a vegan, vegetarian, or religious decision but rather food restrictions more in line with fad diets.
Obsession With and Increased Negative Commentary on Their Weight and Body
If your student-athlete increasing expresses dissatisfaction with their body, it’s an indication that body dysmorphia might be developing.Body dysmorphia, or a negative body image with distorted perceptions of its size and weight, is a regular factor in eating disorder development in adolescence. When coupled with other stressors such as anxiety disorder or a sense of perfectionism, the risk factor for disordered eating or exercise patterns is greatly increased.
Changing Body Weight, Both Increases and Decreases
As teens grow and go through puberty, it is common for them to experience slight changes in their body shape and weight. Sudden changes in weight, however, indicate that a regular eating pattern has been disrupted. It’s not simply extreme weight loss that’s a cause for concern, however. Although anorexia nervosa certain might cause weight loss, other eating disorders such as binge eating disorder can actually cause sudden weight gain. Young athletes may go on crash diets to “make weight” and then binge in the off-season, causing severe health risks from the fluctuating weight.
Options for Concerned Parents
Parents should understand that their most important role is to offer reliable, non-judgmental support to their child. Recovering from an eating or exercise disorder requires communication and teamwork, from the child to the parents and then to the eating disorder treatment program. To better protect student-athletes, parents can also:
- Check in with coaches regarding their child’s attitude and performance. Parents should take the time to question the coaches on topics surrounding weight goals and nutritional planning. Although specific mentions of weight are usually not a part of eating disorder recovery, in some sports it’s unavoidable. If possible, encourage the athlete to focus on health rather than a specific number.
- Keep a close eye on social media use and how they speak with friends to make sure there are not obsessing about weight or being skinny.
- Discourage the practice of frequent “weigh-ins” at home.
- Educate yourself on the common signs of eating disorders. If parents notice something is wrong, they should appropriately speak to their child, avoiding accusatory language, and making sure they are feeling seen and heard.
- If there are still concerns after discussing these warning signs, parents should immediately seek professional advice from a specialized therapist or eating disorder treatment center.
Do you know about dossier
