Stop Starving: Eating Disorder Myths and Tips Disproven.

 SPECIAL EDITION: 
Athletes and Exercise

Athletes of certain sports (gymnastics, ballet, wrestling, swimming, rowing, figure skating) have an increased risk for developing an eating disorder. Why is this?

1. Some sports require the athlete to maintain strict weight requirements to fly higher or compete at a lower weight class. Sadly, at a low enough weight performance can suffer and injury often occurs.
2. A person that competes in sports usually has a high level of competitiveness and commitment to a goal. This drive to succeed and commit to a goal can turn weight loss into an eating disorder. A fixation develops on achieving the optimal weight.
3. This population has many cheerleaders to fuel on the eating disorder. Parents and coaches may be supportive of the sport and competition, but not see the underlying condition.  Or even worse, they may choose to ignore it.

Consequently, their are many athletes with eating disorders, even at the professional level. Sadly, the road to recovery is long, and many individuals never make  it.

The ballerina Heidi Guenther was 'encouraged' to lose weight by her ballet company. Over time, she developed anorexia and dropped from 115 to 93 pounds. She died at the age of 22.

Keep and eye on the athletes in your life. If they are in a weight-restrictive sports and seem troubled lead them to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) website.

There is a movement being created to teach this population of athletes how to have a healthy body image and still maintain a competitive edge in sports.


Exercise is a growing facet of eating disorders. Pro-ana sites list various exercise "tips" that could render the individual exhausted and/or injured. Working out while not consuming enough calories is detrimental to the body. Even during weight loss programs, adequate calories must be consumed for the body to heal and grow stronger.

Myth:
When you are hungry, run in place. This will take your mind off food and you will be burning calories. Exercise until you can't exercise anymore.

Truth:
Ignoring hunger cues will lead to a slower metabolism. Regarding the burning of calories, working out to the point of complete exhaustion is NOT effective. At this point, the body is above the target heart rate, at an anaerobic (sprinting, not jogging) state and it cannot actively use oxygen. Very strenuous activity for a heart that is malnourished and weakened (common in ED sufferers) can cause a heart attack.

Exercising within the right amount of time at the right level is healthy. But with  inadequate nutrition and prior strain on the heart and body, exercise style and duration become very important to monitor.