Posts Tagged “Athletes”

We are beyond thrilled to announce that The Emily Program is partnering with Jessie Diggins! Jessie, a Minnesota native, is a cross-country skier, Olympic athlete, and advocate for eating disorder care and recovery. Jessie Diggins will celebrate with The Emily Program and share her personal story of recovery during The Emily Program’s 25th-anniversary celebration on November 3^rd in Saint Louis Park, MN.

Recently, conversations about eating disorders in athletes have been flooding the internet. People are wondering how coaches and parents can recognize symptoms and what the best treatment options are. There is a common misconception that athletics resulting in weight loss is the norm, but that’s not always the case. The main purpose of exercising is to build up body strength and muscle mass. Individuals who are driven to use athletics while restricting intake for weight loss are at a high risk of developing an eating disorder.

This is one person’s story; everyone will have unique experiences on their own path to recovery and beyond. Some stories may mention eating disorder thoughts, behaviors, or symptom use. Please use your own discretion. And speak with your therapist when needed.

By Mitchell S. Moyer, a man in recovery from anorexia.

When you have an eating disorder, the thoughts that swim in your head are dark and relentless. You ask yourself: Will I ever be the same? Will I ever stop thinking about food? How did I get here, and how do I beat this monster? You rise in the morning. But as the day progresses, your energy wanes and those thoughts continue to weigh you down. You feel adrift in frustration, confusion, and self-doubt.

People often think “Eating disorders are a woman’s disease.” This myth is constantly reinforced by character portrayals on television, targeted advertisements, and even studies and articles that draw from exclusively female samples. The sad reality is that eating disorders affect any and all genders, and those who do not identify as female may even suffer more with the very diagnosis of their disease due to the stereotype that eating disorders are feminine. Therefore, although eating disorders affect each individual differently, it is important to consider one’s gender identification in order to increase efficacy for prevention, detection, and treatment of the disease.

Article: Eating Disorder Pathology in Elite Adolescent Athletes. International Journal of Eating Disorders, vol. 49, issue 6, p. 553-562. Giel, Hermann-Werner, Mayer, Diehl, Schneider, Thiel, & Zipfel. (2016). Access the article here.

This study examined eating disorder pathology in a large group (n=1138) of elite adolescent athletes.  

The researchers assessed body weight, weight control behaviors, and body acceptance. They also screened overall for core eating disorder symptoms as well as for depression and anxiety.  

Female and Male Athletes are Susceptible to Disordered Eating

While sports and exercise are excellent ways to improve mental and physical health, grow self-esteem, and build relationships, the fact that athletes carry risk factors for disordered eating is one that shouldn’t be ignored. What makes athletes vulnerable to eating disorders? What should coaches, trainers, parents, and peers look out for?