On April 12, 2008, The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt will host a symposium to educate the professional community on how they can support and promote eating disorder prevention efforts. Check out the Q&A with Dr. Ron Thompson, one of the five internationally renowned experts in eating disorders who will be presenting. Keep an eye out for interviews with other experts as we get closer to the date!

What is unique about the athlete’s environment that places them at risk for development of an eating disorder?

There are several factors that make athletes a special population at risk. Athletes have the same risk factors as non-athletes as well as factors that are specific to sport participation. The greatest risk has to do with the belief in the sport world, held by both coaches and athletes, that the leaner athlete performs better, which leads to dieting. 

Significant risks also lie in the aesthetic, judged and endurance sports. “Good athletes” have similar traits to those who suffer from anorexia nervosa, which may predispose them to potential development of an eating disorder. Additionally, some athletes who wear revealing uniforms are more at risk for body dissatisfaction and competitive thinness.

Although these are all significant risk factors, I believe that the greatest risk to athletes is the challenge to identify an eating disorder within the sport world. If an at-risk or symptomatic athlete isn’t identified, they cannot be treated.

Another issue that complicates identification involves “sport body stereotypes” in which the stereotype of thinness is not only accepted as “normal,” but is also desirable. In such a situation, the athlete who may be too thin would be difficult to identify because she fits the stereotype. Another issue complicating identification is the presumption of health with good performance. Many in the sport world do not suspect an eating disorder if the athlete is performing well.

Finally, many in the sport world do not identify eating disorder symptoms such as weight-loss, amenorrhea and excessive exercise as symptoms, as they are oftentimes viewed as desirable.

What are a few key signs that an athlete may be developing and/or struggling with an eating disorder?

Although many athletes are able to perform well for quite some time despite their disorder, the disorder will eventually affect their health and performance. A decrease in sport performance may be the first sign. For female athletes, one of the first signs is often menstrual irregularity. The combination of too much training and inadequate nutrition leads to what has been termed “low energy availability,” which has been adopted in the sport world as the explanation for exercise-induced menstrual dysfunction. Stress fractures and overuse injuries can also be an indicator, as well as if the athlete is doing more training than is recommended by his/her coach.

What advice can you offer for either an athlete or a coach on how to minimize the risk for this population?

I have always believed that the coach is the most important and most influential person in the process. Coaches first need to recognize their power and influence with their athletes, which can either be used to promote or prevent eating disorders. They must commit themselves to learning the risks involved in their sport and more importantly how to prevent them, part of which has to involve de-emphasizing weight.

Athletes and coaches are most receptive to discussions about performance. Performance, however, cannot become subordinated to health. I suggest to coaches and athletes that, other than genetics, the most significant contributor to good sport performance is good health and the most significant contributor to good health is good nutrition.

Dr. Ron Thompson works for the Bloomington Center for Counseling and Human Development where he specializes in the assessment and treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, specifically with athletes on their psychological issues, relating to eating and exercise. He has specialized in the treatment of eating disorders since 1986.

If you are a mental health professional and are interested in hearing Dr. Thompson speak on this subject you can register for the April 12th symposium online at www.eventville.com/sheppardpratt