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Athletics linked to Anorexia Nervosa

01/Oct/2006: Anorexia and serious other eating disorders are on the increase in the professional athlete especially in those that are expected to maintain and where a trim body shape is essential for there particular sport.

There are many sports which would be almost impossible to maintain the standard that is expected from the athlete if they didn't maintain a trim shape.

It is within this section of athletes that great care must be taken to ensure they don't fall into the trap of anorexia for the percentage risk is higher than any other profession.

Which Athletes Are Most At Risk?

Gymnasts of course are high up on the risk scale of developing serious eating disorders such as anorexia; to be able to run and flip as they do they have to maintain a slim, agile but strong frame. Figure skating is also a high risk category where a slim frame is the ideal for many hours of practising and lifting your figure skating partner.

Diving, dancing and swimming are all sports which commonly require a trim figure to excel in the profession. The American college of sports concluded a study in 1992 which showed that 62% of sporting females in sports such as figure skating and gymnastics were affected at some time or other during there career.

Who Is To Blame?

With ever increasing pressure on the athletes to maintain there shape, weight and peak of physical fitness, who is to blame behind the increase in eating disorders among athletes. The athlete may be one of the lucky few who's body is naturally trim for most they will have the daily struggle in maintaining there shape and be very careful with there diets.

Most will also feel not just the pressure from within them selves but also receive adding pressure from coaches and even those judging the events they contend in. They have a double battle of there own worries and feelings about there body and weight and often this is worsened by negative comments from those judging there performance.

Often in sports judged on artistic merits such as dancing and gymnastics, judges can be pretty harsh regarding thinness and unfortunately may consider this an important factor. For the athlete competing against several others this leads to ever increasing pressure and the likely hood of developing an eating disorder such as anorexia.

A Higher Risk

Athletes developing anorexia of course pose a much higher risk of having medical complications develop as a result of there illness. They are higher rated simply because of the strenuous routines and stress they already put on there body to maintain the peak physical fitness level.

Athletes suffering from anorexia or similar eating disorder will have frequent side effects such as dizziness, tiredness, weakness in the muscles and fainting.

Further Reading
http://www.anorexiasurvivalguide.com/

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