...RUNNING HEAD: EATING DISORDERS IN ATHLETES 1 Eating Disorders in Athlete American Public University February 21, 2015 Kellyanne Michael Eating Disorders in Athletes 2 Eating Disorders in Athletes Looking in your mirror at home, do you always like what you see? Most people come to accept themselves and their body image just the way it is. Other’s struggle to achieve the perfect body. They strive to be what they see all the time in fashion magazines and movies. It’s a never ending obsession to be thin and perfect. This inevitably can lead to eating disorders. Eating disorders can cause someone to have a negative image of themselves and food becomes their enemy. It’s not news that eating disorders are a huge problem in the United States but what about eating disorders in sports specifically. Athletes are not immune to disorders just because they are considered the elite in their perspective sport. It is said that at least thirteen percent of athletes have some type of eating disorders. This paper will...
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...The Female Athlete Triad The three components of the female athlete triad are energy availability, menstrual function, and bone mineral density. The triad is clinically referred to as eating disorders, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis. The female athlete triad has become more prevalent in the United States due to Title IX legislation. The triad is most common among the athletic population, but can occur in the athletic population. It is most common among athletes that are in sports the emphasize leanness. The pressure to perform at elite levels causes many female athletes to combine excessive exercise with calorie-poor diets. The benefits of exercise outweigh the risks, so women of all ages should be encouraged to participate in physical activity. It is important to rest your body between workouts to promote proper muscle and bone recovery. It is important to educate athletes, coaches, and parents on signs and symptoms of the triad to promote early detection and prevention. Energy availability is defined as dietary energy input minus exercise output. Energy availability is the amount of dietary energy remaining after exercise for other body functions. If energy availability gets to low physiological mechanisms reduce the amount of energy that is used for cellular maintenance, thermoregulation, growth, and reproduction. This can restore energy balance but it significantly impairs health. Athletes can cause an energy deficit in many different ways. Athletes reduce energy by binge-eating...
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...Abstract: Research indicates that the nutritional knowledge of athletes is minimal. Dietary behaviors may hinder health status and athletic performance. The purpose of this study was to compare nutrition knowledge and attitudes of college athletes at a Southern university (N=190). Male and female athletes were surveyed from all sports. The study examined knowledge of current dietary recommendations, sources of nutrients, healthy food choices, and the relationship between diet and disease processes. Significant differences in overall knowledge were noted between athletes’ collegiate sports and genders. The majority of athletes at this university had healthy attitudes about eating behaviors, but low knowledge scores. A problem facing America’s college youth today is the lack of available healthy fast foods or easily prepared foods. College students have little time and space when it comes to meal preparation within the confines of dorms, apartments, or shared housing. An additional concern is the knowledge needed to determine which food items to select. Current research indicates that as the athletes’ knowledge increases, nutritional quality of food choices improves (Kunkel, Bell, & Luccia, 2001). Nutritional Education and Training (NET) programs are taught to children in most public schools (Sizer & Whitney, 2000), yet few college-age students understand even the basic concepts of nutrition by the time they reach a university setting (Cho & Fryer, 1974; Grandjean, Hursh...
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...Sports are great for a number of reasons. They usually improve self-esteem, body image and develop a competitive spirt. On the other hand, it can lead to eating disorders. “In a study of Division 1 NCAA athletes, over one-third of female athletes reported attitudes and symptoms placing them at risk for anorexia nervosa” according to national eating disorder.org. The majority in the study with eating disorders were female but male athletes also display this behavior. This is especially the case if they are wrestlers, gymnastics, diving, figure skating, bodybuilders and runners. In essences any sport that places emphasis on weight and individual performance places their athletes at risk. The wrestlers and fighters are required to weigh in before...
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...Attitude Survey Paper Lola Shannon PSY/475 September 24, 2011 Stephanie Mead Attitude Survey Paper The purpose of this survey is to show the relationship between social anxieties, fruits/vegetable, food consumption, dieting, and eating attitudes. The behavior between physical and weight control, cigarette smoking and how much fruits/vegetable is consumption is examined within this study. The (EAT) “Eating Attitudes Test” is used around the world as a measure for self reports and eating disorders. Garner and Garfinkel developed the test to measure anorexia nervosa symptoms in (1979). The scores on the EAT-26 derive as the sum of the composite items, ranging from 0-53, with a score of 20 on the EAT-26 used as the cut off (Garner et al., 1982). The three EAT-26 factors are as such: Dieting-F1: avoidance degree, fatty foods, and the thinning preoccupation, Bulimia F2: Food preoccupation/Oral control F3: self control degree when in the present of food. The EAT-26 reliability determines the pilot study of food. The anxiety social physique scale is an original designed of Hart, Leary, and Rejeski (1989). The ASPS of the individual self inventory is a participation respond of 13 items on a point of 5 Likert scale. Historical evidence from 1959 to 1988 has the illustration of the continual shift toward an increased thinner physique in the Western society (Garner, Garfinkel, Schwartz, & Thompson, 1980; Wiseman, Gray, Mosimann, & Ahrens, 1992). In today’s society the...
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...measures, such as drugs, eating disorders, or even over exercising to reach this ideal body. Of course exercise is undoubtedly important to living a healthy life, but it is more important to know that the perfect body cannot and does not exist. Every person is unique and “healthy” does not necessarily mean stick skinny or big muscles. The idea of a perfect body is the result of over exaggerated media and the all important sports world. Through the influence of sports and media, the desire of an ideal body type has become one of the main concerns in a majority of our population and is severely damaging this majority’s physical and mental health. As a multibillion dollar business, it is hard to ignore the fact that sports are really important in today’s society (Sissoko). Sports bring people together and for years have been an excellent source of entertainment. Events are full of “moment-by-moment excitement”, filled with the adrenaline that most people just can’t get enough of. With the business of this all important sport’s world, although, comes the controversy of using illegal drugs. To some athletes, not only professional, the need for a better body to perform at greater capacities has become more important than their ethics and morals. Athletes are role models for people of all ages and seeing them throw away everything that is right, for a better game, a win, or for the body that gets them there is part of the problem we face. The male athletes, who seek out instant results...
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...Eating Disorders Many young men and women in the United States have a skewed perception of themselves. Some people take healthy approaches to achieve their health goals while others take a more unhealthy, and sometimes, dangerous path. Eating disorders have many health issues, along with noticeable symptoms, and proposed theories. There are a number of different forms of eating disorders. Anorexia Nervosa, commonly referred to as anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by reduced appetite or total aversion of food. The first type of anorexia, called restricting type, is found in those who severely limit their caloric intake and exercise to excess to cause weight loss. The second type of the disorder is called binge eating and/or purging. These anorexics eat in binges and then purge the body of the ingested food either by self induced vomiting, the ingestion of large quantities of laxatives or the overuse of diuretics and enemas to rid the body of food. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food (e.g., binge-eating), and feeling a lack of control over the eating. Binge Eating is characterized by insatiable cravings that can occur any time of the day or night, usually secretive, and filled with shame. There are also eating disorders not otherwise specified. It is the category for people who do not meet the strict criteria for either Anorexia or Bulimia Nervosa, but who have significant...
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...Types of Eating Disorders Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by the refusal to eat. It can affect anyone of any gender or age but disproportionately affects young women in their late teens and early twenties. There are four criteria that must be present to achieve a diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa. First a person must refuse to maintain body weight over a minimal normal weight for age and height or have a failure to make expected weight gain during a defined period of growth, resulting in a body weight 15% lower than expected. Second, the person must experience intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight. Third, the person must have a disturbance in the way his or her body weight, size, or shape is experienced and also experience undue influence of body weight, or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current body weight. Finally, amenorrhea must be present. Amenorrhea is the absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles when otherwise expected to occur. Bulimia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by cyclical bingeing and purging episodes. Bingeing is defined as the consumption of more food than most other people would eat. Bulimia Nervosa exists when bingeing and compensatory behaviors occur on average 2 times weekly or more for a period of at least 3 months. People with Bulimia may engage in a variety of either purging or non-purging behaviors such as vomiting, using laxatives...
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...NUTRITION KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES AMONG CLEMSON UNIVERSITY STUDENT-ATHLETES A Thesis Presented to the Graduate School of Clemson University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science Nutrition by Ashley Nicole Dunnigan May 2010 Accepted by: Beth Kunkel, Committee Chair Gail Delicio Karen Kemper i ABSTRACT Participants in this study were 95 Clemson University student-athletes who were currently on the varsity men’s and women’s soccer, tennis, track and field, and swimming and diving who completed a survey on nutrition knowledge and attitudes. The mean total point score on the survey was 17.48 + 1.71. The mean score on knowledge questions on the survey was 11.59 + 3.14 or 46.3%. Females had a slightly higher mean score (12.3+ 3.03 or 49.2%) than males (10.9 + 3.13 or 43.6%) on the knowledge questions. The mean score on attitude questions was 5.89+ 1.67 or 58.9%. Females had a slightly higher mean score (6.19 + 1.53 or 61.9%) than the males (5.60 + 1.76 or 56%) on the attitude questions. A multiple regression analysis for impact of sport, gender, class rank, previous nutrition course, and eating situation on total score on the survey gave an overall R2 of 0.174 (F= 3.75, p= 0.004). There was no significant unique effect of class rank (p = 0.084), sport (p= 0.079), and eating situation (p= 0.079) for this model. The unique effect of gender (p= 0.003) and taking a nutrition course (p= 0.036) were statistically significant. Even though...
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...change. These girls will try anything like dieting, diet pills, or even starving themselves to see this change, but the emotional and physical effects are never thought of when trying to lose weight a certain way. Average sized people should be portrayed more in the media because of the medias impact on body image perception of young women. Anorexia is a disease that involves unusual eating habits and self-starvation. The people who are affected are mostly young women, but people of either gender can become anorexic at any age. The most common cases of anorexia are found in young females, athletes, and people portrayed in the media. There are many physical effects that an anorexic person will experience. Weak bones are a common negative effect which really hurts an athlete. Hair loss and skin discoloration are other effects that effect both men and women. Other diseases can result from anorexia such as anemia or heart disease. All eating disorders have physical effects that are not portrayed from the media. There are also emotional effects that take a toll on people that have an eating disorder. Many people start to feel depressed. After a while, they actually can be diagnosed with depression by a doctor. Another effect is guilt for any reason. If a person begins to eat...
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...Eating disorders are abnormal eating practices or unhealthy relationships with food. In addition, eating disorders can also be defines as mental disorders and illnesses because individuals with the disease experience severe disturbances in their eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions. In fact, an untreated eating disorder can lead to serious health complications and even death. Further, women are more likely than men to develop an eating disorder. There are a number of different types of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, night eating syndrome, and female athlete triad. However one of the most common eating disorder is anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by weight...
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...Bulimia in Teens Introduction Eating disorders can take a devastating toll on the lives of many people. This is especially true for teenagers. Many teens, especially girls, develop eating disorders. It is important to understand the causes, symptoms, consequences, and treatment for these types of illnesses’. One of the most common eating disorders in teens is bulimia nervosa. Bulimia nervosa (bulimia) is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder. People with bulimia nervosa may binge and purge, eating large amounts of food and then try to get rid of the extra calories in an unhealthy way. For example, someone with bulimia nervosa may force themselves to vomit or do excessive exercise. If you have bulimia nervosa, you are probably preoccupied with your weight and body shape, and may judge yourself severely and harshly for your self-perceived flaws. Causes The exact cause of bulimia is unknown. As with other mental illnesses, there are many possible factors that could play a role in the development of eating disorders such as bulimia. Genetic, psychological, trauma, family, society, or cultural factors may play a role. Eating disorders like bulimia are more likely to occur in people who have parents or siblings with an eating disorder. Girls and women are more likely to have bulimia than boys and men. Age may play a role in who is affected. Bulimia often begins in late adolescence or early adulthood. The illness is more common in college students...
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...Eating Disorder Outline I. What is an eating disorder A. Disturbance in Eating B. Has Psychiatric Classification in Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV-R) C. Coping Mechanism II. Coping III. Eating Continuum IV. Normal Eating Normal Eating is being able to eat when you are hungry and continue eating until you are satisfied. Normal eating is being able to use some moderate constraint on your food selection to get the right food, but not being so restrictive that you miss out on pleasurable foods. Normal eating is giving yourself permission to eat sometimes because you are happy, sad or bored, or just because it feels good Normal eating is three meals a day, or it can be choosing to munch along. It is leaving some cookies on the plate because you know you can have some again tomorrow, or it is eating more now because they taste so wonderful when they are fresh. Normal eating is overeating at times: feeling stuffed and uncomfortable. It is also under-eating at times and wishing you had more. Normal eating is trusting your body to make up for your mistakes in eating. Normal eating takes up some of your time and attention, but keeps its place as only one important area of your life. In short, normal eating is flexible. It varies in response to your emotions, your schedule, your hunger and your proximity to food. V. Chronic Dieters 1. 2. 3. VI. Types of eating disorders a. Anorexia ...
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...Eating Disorder Outline I. What is an eating disorder A. Disturbance in Eating B. Has Psychiatric Classification in Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV-R) C. Coping Mechanism II. Coping III. Eating Continuum IV. Normal Eating Normal Eating is being able to eat when you are hungry and continue eating until you are satisfied. Normal eating is being able to use some moderate constraint on your food selection to get the right food, but not being so restrictive that you miss out on pleasurable foods. Normal eating is giving yourself permission to eat sometimes because you are happy, sad or bored, or just because it feels good Normal eating is three meals a day, or it can be choosing to munch along. It is leaving some cookies on the plate because you know you can have some again tomorrow, or it is eating more now because they taste so wonderful when they are fresh. Normal eating is overeating at times: feeling stuffed and uncomfortable. It is also under-eating at times and wishing you had more. Normal eating is trusting your body to make up for your mistakes in eating. Normal eating takes up some of your time and attention, but keeps its place as only one important area of your life. In short, normal eating is flexible. It varies in response to your emotions, your schedule, your hunger and your proximity to food. V. Chronic Dieters 1. 2. 3. VI. Types of eating disorders a. Anorexia ...
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...Key Terms Anabolic steroids Compounds derived from testosterone that promote tissue growth and repair. Anabolic refers to processes in the body that covert simple substances into more complex compounds (Uretsky, 2006). Anorexia Athletica A disorder of compulsive exercising. People tend to be more obsessed with maintaining abnormally low body fat percentage than with body weight (Davidson & Porter, 2013). Blood doping The use of products that enhance the uptake, transport, or delivery of oxygen to the blood. Blood is taken out a few months before competition and then packed, frozen, and stored. A few days before competition, the blood is returned to the body to increase the red blood count by up to 20% (Blood Doping, 2007). Erythropoietin...
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