Body Image and Sport - Real Mum story on MoM

8 Comments

Recently I listened to a report on the radio about eating disorders and sport. I am quite shocked as eating disorders appear to be a huge problem in sport, especially at the elite sports level with one in three athletes suffering with an eating disorder. There are many reasons, including the uniforms which are skin tight lycra and the athletes are concerned about every bump and skin fold showing! The eating disorders are across the spectrum and they are trying to combat it as it is getting out of control. Sport has always been promoted as healthy and it surprised and saddened me greatly to hear this report. The best we can do as parents is to promote good health with eating good food and getting plenty of exercise and having a fun time with individual and team sports.

Posted anonymously, 25th October 2015

8 Comments

- - mom94125 said
  - 28 Dec 2015
    1:34 pm
yeah anything like this, the kids can feel that pressure to be the best and resort to things like this.

- - mom81879 said
  - 06 Nov 2015
    11:01 am
It really shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise when you think of the pressure these people are under to perform. Try set eating disorders are largely due to control issues, this must be the only way these elite athletes feel as though they have control over their lives

- - mom165081 said
  - 02 Nov 2015
    2:13 am
Sounds like an interesting story. What radio station? Would be interested to find out more.

- - mum4107 said
  - 26 Oct 2015
    6:18 am
That us terrible. I had no idea. Thank you for sharing

- - BellaB said
  - 25 Oct 2015
    6:59 pm
Also, there’s often no balance in their lives.
- mom93821 replied
  
  26 Oct 2015 , 6:23 am
  Good point and very true BELLAB.
- - hopefullyheidi said
  - 25 Oct 2015
    9:23 am
This is sad. I guess as athletes they must have supreme control and discipline, and probably part of that could easily get out of control and develop into an eating disorder
- mom93821 replied
  
  25 Oct 2015 , 10:35 am
  The stats are 1 in 3 athletes has an eating disorder! They are actively combatting this as they have seen the problem increase over the years.