Customer center

We are a boutique essay service, not a mass production custom writing factory. Let us create a perfect paper for you today!

Example research essay topic: Eating Disorders Among Athletes - 2,017 words

NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote

The Growing Problem of Eating Disorders Among Athletes Most people would expect athletes to know the latest fitness and health information. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Eating disorders affect male and female athletes all over the world, causing problems in their performance as well as impairing their health. Moreover, pressure from coaches, who should be the most concerned with the health and performance of their athletes, can be the main cause in the development of eating disorders. Parents and coaches should work together to watch the weight and eating habits of their children and athletes so that they can help prevent these disorders from occurring. There are several types of eating disorders.

Anorexia is one of the main ones. Women seem to suffer far more than men do from this disorder. "A person with anorexia does not eat enough to maintain a healthy weight, weighs less than eighty-five percent of normal for her age and height, and usually has irregular or no menstruation" (Mayo Clinic 2). Most anorexics consider themselves to be fat, and they feel it is easier to diet than it is to deal with their problems directly. Dr. Lucas, a psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic says, "Anorexia nervosa occurs in one-half percent to one percent of girls aged thirteen to seventeen, peeking at age fifteen" (Mayo Clinic). Anorexic people usually begin their diets with good intentions, but then they get carried away with them.

The most common people with anorexia are girls who are often devoted overachievers. They are goal-oriented and usually do exactly what is expected of them. This is probably why most female athletes that suffer from anorexia never realize that they have a problem at all (Mayo Clinic 3). The most common eating disorder is bulimia, also known as bingeing and purging. People who suffer from bulimia usually eat large amounts of food (bingeing) then, before their bodies absorb it, they make themselves vomit (purging). Bingeing is associated with a feeling of guilt and shame, and purging is a form of relieving this shame.

Bulimics are usually people who do not feel secure about themselves, and food becomes their only source of comfort. Bulimia occurs in a high percent of older teenage girls and young women. A research of women who suffer from eating disorders showed that "bulimics had the least satisfaction with their bodies and the most strongly held beliefs that society values thinness" (Azar 1). People who suffer from this disorder realize that they do have a problem and usually become depressed. Eating disorders have become a huge problem among athletes because of the pressures of the sports they are involved in, and it seems to keep getting worse. For many, thinness equals happiness.

Dieting seems to give people a sense of control and achievement. One problem is that athletes seem to think that the less they weigh the better their performance. This is a false statement (Colby 1). Actually, the more weight athletes lose, the more their performance will suffer. Women athletes feel pressured by how the public views them because there are some sports that judge on appearance as well as physical ability.

Socially, thin is chic and is associated with sex appeal, popularity, and status. There is pressure on athletes in certain sports to be thin and small. Athletes involved in what they call "lean sports" such as diving, dancing, figure skating, wrestling, and gymnastics, have a much higher rate of developing eating disorders than athletes do in other sports (Azar 1). Gymnastics, for example, places a lot of emphasis on thinness and personal appearance. Some female gymnasts are led into dieting so they can maintain perfect weight. More than half of all athletes use unnecessary diets to burn calories.

The pursuit of thinness provides identity and a sense of self-esteem. Dr. Morse, an eating disorder coordinator for the Student Counseling Services at Iowa State University says, "an eating disorder can be triggered by excessive dieting, intense training, or negative reinforcement from a peer or coach" (Colby 1). Psychologist Donald Williamson says, "several risk factors interact to increase a female athlete's risk of developing an eating disorder: she perceives pressure from her sport and coach to be thin; she judges her performance negatively, and she feels anxious about her performance" (Azar 2). Some athletes' disorders originate with their coaches.

Many coaches even recommend weight loss to their athletes (Colby 1). The emphasis on winning also raises degrees of stress, and is often associated with eating disorders. Other problems are linked to relationship struggles and emotional issues. Most people who develop eating disorders have been abused, criticized heavily, or have a history of family problems (Diehm 1). The number of men developing eating disorders is increasing. The percent would probably be higher if more men would come forward with their problems.

The reasons men develop eating disorders are really no different from the reasons a woman would. They experience the same feelings anyone else who was suffering would: low self-esteem and a need for perfection; they usually hate everything about themselves. Some male athletes involved in sports like wrestling or body-building have been known to use laxatives, jog while wrapped in plastic, fast, and overuse saunas because they feel water loss is the quickest and easiest way for them to lose weight. The number of women who suffer is so much higher because men are not under the same pressure to be thin, but it is difficult for men to reach out for help because eating disorders are still considered a "woman's disease"; so most men turn to alcohol and drugs to cope with their problems. Once society is educated and discovers what eating disorders really are, they will have no trouble accepting that men can suffer too.

Eventually, eating disorders can weaken organs, muscle power, and endurance, also impair performance and inhibit the body's ability to fight illness. Eating disorders also cause .".. increased feelings of depression, lack of concentration and trouble sleeping" (Colby 2). "By developing eating disorders athletes end up tearing muscle because 80 % of their body types are inherited" (Diehm 1). This means that as one's body begins to lose more weight than it is supposed to, it stretches muscle too much, and it begins to tear. Physical problems such as damage to the heart and kidneys, malnutrition, and even death can happen if anorexia is ignored. Bulimia also causes many health problems including dehydration, reduction of minerals, and danger to essential organs. "Dentists may be the first to suspect bulimia because stomach acid from frequent, induced vomiting may damage tooth enamel and gums" (Mayo Clinic 2).

Athletes already engage in strenuous physical activity, and having an eating disorder puts them at great risk for sudden death from cardiac arrest. Parents, coaches, and athletes should all be educated on the dangers of eating disorders. This could be done if school sports coordinators could make it mandatory for all coaches and athletes to attend and pass classes on health and proper nutrition before they are able to participate in any sport. Coaches should bring in nutrition experts to educate athletes. Counselling should also be made available to athletes who are suffering from these disorders. Parents should help by paying attention to the eating habits and weight of their children.

They should accompany their children to some practices to observe the coach. They should look for a coach who will encourage, praise, and help their athletes. According to Holliman, there are many warning signs that can help coaches detect eating disorders: sudden weight loss, obsession with exercise, a sense of unhappiness, frequent complaints, and irregular weakness. Other signs include low self-esteem, thinking he or she is fat, and long periods of time in the bathroom with running water on (Mayo Clinic 4). By watching for signs like these, coaches and parents could save someone's life.

There are many services available to help athletes with eating disorders. Groups like the Student Counseling Services, which are located on campuses around the country, help athletes deal with eating disorders by offering screening and counseling. All of their services are free and completely confidential (Colby 2). There are also many places on the Internet where people who are suffering from eating disorders can get help. At AOL Health under the topic, "eating disorders, " there is a long list of different websites available to the public.

By connecting to one of these links, people can talk one on one with a psychologist who can help them with their problems. Also, at many bookstores and libraries across the country one can find Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Handbook, John R. Matthews's Eating Disorders, and many other books that can help people deal with the pain of eating disorders. The Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa Association has a twenty-four hour phone line people can call to talk about their problems.

The doctors and researchers there can refer people who are suffering to a local doctor or center that will help them get well. The sooner the problems are detected the better. According to P. Garfinkel and D. Garner, the authors of Anorexia nervosa: A multidimensional perspective, "It is important to recognize the obvious -- eating disorders are not a single illness caused by a single pathogen, but a complex syndrome composed of a distillation of a group of interacting forces unique to the individual (q. in Holliman 21).

Eating disorders really have nothing to with food; they are just symptoms of deeper emotional issues. These disorders will never just go away, and people who suffer need medical attention. Understanding the risk factors and how they affect athletes is essential in planning for treatment. The fight against eating disorders is far from over. The only way to let athletes know how dangerous eating disorders are is for parents and coaches to educate them on health and proper nutrition. Bibliography: Annotated Bibliography Azar, Beth. "Public scrutiny sparks some eating disorders. " APA Monitor July 1996: 1 - 2 pp. 8 Nov. 1999.

This article is about how the public expects a certain weight and look from athletes involved in what they call "lean sports. " It talks about risk factors like body size, shape and appearance, and how these things can lead to eating disorders. It also says that coaches should be educated about the risks of eating disorders. Colby, Alexa. "Escalating problem of eating disorders among athletes discussed at program. " 30 March 1998: 1 - 2 pp. 8 Nov. 1999. This article talks about a program, held at a YWCA, called "Starving to Succeed. " The program is held to talk about the rising problem of eating disorders among athletes. Doctors at the program discuss how coaches can sometimes cause the emphasis on thinness and appearance in certain sports like gymnastics, dance, and wrestling. They said the easiest way to recover is to seek help from services like the Student Counseling Services.

Diehm, Kristin. "Athletes More Likely to Scrutinize Their Bodies. " 6 February 1996: 1 p. 8 Nov. 1999. This article talks about how certain sports, such as gymnastics, wrestling, and ballet can affect athletes more than others. Diehm also discusses how athletes who were abused or criticized heavily are more prone to develop eating disorders. "Eating disorders and young women. " Mayo Clinic 3 April 1997: 1 - 4 pp. 8 Nov. 1999. This article talks about what exactly eating disorders are and how they can harm one's life. It says family problems play a major role in causing these disorders. The article gives many warning signs like low self-esteem and a need for mastery over ones life.

It says that eating disorders are very complex and usually need serious medical attention. Early treatment is crucial; the sooner the disorders are detected the better the outlook. Holliman, Susan Chappell, ed. Eating Disorders and Athletes: A Handbook for Coaches. Iowa: Kendall/ Hunt Publishing Company, 1991. This book is written so coaches can better understand the issues of eating disorders.

It discusses how pressures such as the media, family, and coaches can play a role in causing eating disorders.


Free research essays on topics related to: anorexia nervosa, people who suffer, low self esteem, eating disorders, people who are suffering

Research essay sample on Eating Disorders Among Athletes

Writing service prices per page

  • $18.85 - in 14 days
  • $19.95 - in 3 days
  • $23.95 - within 48 hours
  • $26.95 - within 24 hours
  • $29.95 - within 12 hours
  • $34.95 - within 6 hours
  • $39.95 - within 3 hours
  • Calculate total price

Our guarantee

  • 100% money back guarantee
  • plagiarism-free authentic works
  • completely confidential service
  • timely revisions until completely satisfied
  • 24/7 customer support
  • payments protected by PayPal

Secure payment

With EssayChief you get

  • Strict plagiarism detection regulations
  • 300+ words per page
  • Times New Roman font 12 pts, double-spaced
  • FREE abstract, outline, bibliography
  • Money back guarantee for missed deadline
  • Round-the-clock customer support
  • Complete anonymity of all our clients
  • Custom essays
  • Writing service

EssayChief can handle your

  • essays, term papers
  • book and movie reports
  • Power Point presentations
  • annotated bibliographies
  • theses, dissertations
  • exam preparations
  • editing and proofreading of your texts
  • academic ghostwriting of any kind

Free essay samples

Browse essays by topic:

Stay with EssayChief! We offer 10% discount to all our return customers. Once you place your order you will receive an email with the password. You can use this password for unlimited period and you can share it with your friends!

Academic ghostwriting

About us

© 2002-2024 EssayChief.com