Express Action Sports

As the level of competition increases athletes try to hone their ‘game’ in many ways, including getting in the best physical shape possible. Unfortunately, some of them become obsessed by losing weight, believing that the leaner they are the faster they can run, higher they can jump, the quicker they can make turns. Athletes in sports where weighing in before competition takes place (and lighter is seen as better) can be especially susceptible.

Some athletes begin to control their weight in unhealthy ways and develop eating disorders. Eating disorders can be deadly. Athletes have had to drop out of sports (or been released from teams) because they have become so dangerously thin or used extreme measures to lose weight that have brought on severe illness. It can take years to overcome an eating disorder. Some athletes have died as a result of their unhealthy obsession.

Most common eating disorders are bulimia and anorexia. Bulimia sufferers binge and purge after eating and might use laxatives, diet pills and diuretics, as well. Anorexics practice self-starvation by not eating enough to maintain a normal weight. One way to check whether your weight is normal is to talk with your physician or figure out your body mass and see whether it is in a healthy range. See guidelines at http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/.

An athlete of normal weight, who practices healthy eating habits and works out regularly doesn’t need to worry about losing weight. Here are the most common signs of eating disorders. If you believe you already have these these symptoms, talk to your parents and see your physician.

• Significant weight loss
• Obsessive thoughts about food and weight
• Binge eating (along with purging or extreme guilt)
• Eating by yourself so people won’t notice you
• Excusing yourself from family (or other group) meals to purge
• Skipping meals or eating extremely small portions
• Frequent weigh-ins on the scale
• Overexercising
• Abuse of laxatives, diet pills or diuretics
• Avoidance of activities, social events due to weight concerns

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Penny Hastings
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/eating-disorder-can-derail-a-promising-athletes-career-751667.html