NEDA TOOLKIT for Coaches and Trainers
If an athlete insists they are fine, I should
believe them.
Problems with accurate self-awareness are one of the
hallmarks of EDs, so an athlete may not currently have
the self-awareness required to recognize a problem.
Thus, someone may genuinely believe they are fine
when they are acutely ill. Other people may deny the
presence of an eating disorder even when they know
they are ill because they are afraid of treatment.
Regardless of the reason, it is important to insist on
regular medical follow-up with a physician who is well-
versed in eating disorders.
Eating disorders occur only in females.
Eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of their
gender or sex. Although eating disorders are believed
to be more common in females, researchers and
clinicians are becoming aware of a growing number
of males who are seeking help for eating disorders.
A 2007 study by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention found that up to one-third of all eating
disorder sufferers are male. It’s currently not clear
whether eating disorders are actually increasing in
males or if more males who are suffering are seeking
treatment or being diagnosed. Because physicians
don’t think of eating disorders as occurring in males,
their disorders have generally become more severe
and entrenched at the point of diagnosis. There may
be subtle differences in eating disorder thoughts and
behaviors in males, who are more likely to be focused
on building muscle than weight loss. They are also
more likely to purge via exercise and misuse steroids
than females.
Men who suffer from eating disorders tend to
be gay.
Although gay, bisexual, and transgender males are
more likely to develop an eating disorder than straight
males, the vast majority of male eating disorder
sufferers are heterosexual.
Subclinical eating disorders are not serious.
Although a person may not fulfill the diagnostic
criteria for an eating disorder, the consequences
associated with disordered eating (e.g., frequent
vomiting, excessive exercise, anxiety) can have long-
term consequences and require intervention. Early
intervention may also prevent progression to a full-
blown clinical eating disorder.
Eating disorder behaviors only focus on food.
Individuals with eating disorders generally have an
unhealthy focus on food and weight, but the symptoms
of an eating disorder can extend far beyond food.
Numerous scientific studies have shown links between
eating disorders, perfectionism, and obsessionality,
which can lead to a fixation on grades or sports
performance. Although many sufferers report that
eating disorder behaviors initially help them decrease
depression and anxiety, as the disorder progresses,
the malnutrition caused by eating disorder behaviors
paradoxically increases depression and anxiety that can
affect all aspects of life.
Dieting is normal adolescent behavior.
While fad dieting or body image concerns have become
“normal” features of adolescent life in Western
cultures, dieting can be a risk factor for developing an
eating disorder. It is especially a risk factor for young
people with family histories of eating disorders and
depression, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
A focus on health, wellbeing and healthy body image
and acceptance is preferable. Any dieting should be
monitored. Anorexia is “dieting gone bad.”
Anorexia is not an extreme diet. It is a life-threatening
medical/psychiatric disorder.
A person with anorexia never eats at all.
Most anorexics do eat; however, they tend to eat
smaller portions, low-calorie foods or strange food
combinations. Some may eat candy bars in the morning
and nothing else all day. Others may eat lettuce and
mustard every two hours, or only condiments. The
disordered eating behaviors are very individualized.
Total cessation of all food intakes is rare and would
result in death from malnutrition in a matter of weeks.
Only people of high socioeconomic status get
eating disorders.
People of all socioeconomic levels have eating
disorders. The disorders have been identified across all
socioeconomic groups, age groups, races, ethnicities
and genders.
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