NEDA TOOLKIT for Coaches and Trainers
Disordered eating may consist of food restriction,
excessive avoidance of certain types of food, or
consuming fewer calories than needed for basic
daily functions and sports activity. Disordered eating
may include bingeing and purging and the abuse of
medicines and supplements, such as laxatives, diuretics,
stimulants, and appetite suppressants. Athletes
suffering from disordered eating can experience
chronic and substantial distress and impairment.
We know that some people can be genetically more
susceptible to anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa
than other people are. However, there are many people
who suffer from disordered eating who do not have this
susceptibility. A word about obesity: The increased attention to
the high rate of obesity in America has raised some
troubling questions. While reducing childhood obesity
is an important goal, it needs to be done in a manner
that does not increase risk for eating disorders and
weight stigmatization, or provoke anxiety among
children about weight, size and shape. Try to shift the
paradigm to promote health and fitness rather than a
desirable size or shape. For more information on this
topic, read the Academy for Eating Disorders’ position
paper on childhood obesity prevention programs.
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