Oberlin 1

Ashley Oberlin
AP English 12 / ECE 1010
Mrs. Kirkpatrick
C Block
December 4, 2019
Coventry High School

Anorexia in Athletes; The Ignorance and Dismissal

To be beautiful, one must be thin. This is how the world operates. Likewise, if an athlete

is not thin, they will surrender defeat to their leanner competition. This is how the world operates.

These distorted views shared amongst all perpetuate the notion that thinness equates to beauty,

falsely mutilating into a “truth” most individuals seek to fulfill. Stemming from these standards,

society regards athletes to be of elite physique, admiring their external appearance in awe as they

yearn to replicate their figure. While these athletes may appear to be the epitome of physical health,

the presence of eating disorders among this community is exceedingly high, yet alarmingly goes

relatively unnoticed. The severity as well is gravely undermined as the Mirasol Recovery Center

discloses, “Anorexia nervosa has the highest death rate of any psychiatric illness” (“Eating”),

surpassing major depression and other illnesses commonly expected to possess higher mortality

rates. However, as athletes are driven to perform at their highest ability, their physical well-being

is repeatedly overlooked as most focus is directed towards overall success at all costs. Ultimately,

the media has severely exacerbated the stigma surrounding eating disorders, specifically anorexia,

as those affected are portrayed to be a glamorous guide to obtaining a modelistic figure. Athletes

embody this optimal character; however, the methods by which they obtained it are masked and

ignored. It is imperative that coaches and other leading figures in one’s athletic career become

educated on the ubiquity of anorexia among athletes to ensure they are cognizant of the symptoms
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by implementing preventative methods before their athletes fall victim to anorexia, while also

recognizing and encouraging the possibility of recovery.

The general public gravely exacerbates the stigma surrounding anorexia due to the lack of

education and strict adherence to the acceptance of common misconceptions that utterly distort the

reality of mental illnesses. Primarily, those misinformed tend to falsely believe that anorexia lacks

severity, deeming it far from a pernicious illness, or people affected can simply choose whether or

not they will recover from it. However, the comparative yet competitive nature of the disease

contrubutes to it being a slow form of suicide as the body’s ability to function properly dissolves

progressively in direct correlation to the body’s lack of fuel and energy sources. Confessing how

those managing anorexia dedicate themselves to being the most successful by achieving the

thinnest frame, two anonymous girls admiring the death of a well-renowned anorexic divulge,

“‘The best anorexic is one who’s six feet under’” (Osgood). People fail to discern the lethal

manifestations of this illness as the collaborative aspect fosters the untamed will to “beat” all other

anorexics by any feasible means. The desire to hold the title of the unsurpassable anorexic parallels

athletics as these competitors are willing to take drastically radical measures to achieve victory,

often placing the supposed team benefit above their own. Contributing to the misinterpretation of

the disease, the DSM-IV upheld the stigma encompassing anorexia as it previously included a

clause defining the weight requirements one needed to fall below in order to be diagnosed as

anorexic. Progressive reform evidently has transpired as it no longer defines, “Refusal to maintain

body weight at or above minimally normal weight for height/age (less than 85th percentile)”

(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services). With the removal of this belittling clause, the

definitive aspect is alleviated as many assume that anorexia equates and presents itself in the same

manner within all victims. The incorporation of the word “refusal” implies that anorexia is a
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conscious choice made by each individual when in reality it is a severe medical and psychiatric

illness. However, with the inclusion of the new provision in the DSM-V, describing the weight

loss and calorie intake associated with anorexia to be in relation to the individual’s own

characteristics, the falsehood that anorexia must only be categorized as falling below a designated

weight is invalidated.

Coaches and trainers center virtually all their attention to the athlete’s performance and fail

to ensure healthy practices are occurring under their supervision. Despite the abundance of evident

indicators of anorexia in athletes at all performance levels, the recognition of symptoms is absent,

thus deeming it imperative that current culture surrounding eating disorders in these athletes is

ameliorated. The common traits of successful athletes are undoubtedly similar to those observed

in anorexia, further escalating the complexity in discerning the presence of eating disorders among

athletes. As exhibited by the table in Appendix A, many traits between a “good athlete” and an

anorexic individual overlap and are evidently aligned [Appendix A]. Daunting similarities arise

between the two as Thompson criticizes, “These characteristics are not only found frequently in

athletes; they are encouraged and reinforced in the athletic environment” (Thompson). Because of

the cumulative pressure athletes are accustomed to, these qualities are viewed as assets that will

benefit the athlete overall and are endorsed by their instructors. Symptoms of anorexia nervosa are

often misinterpreted as athleticism, leading to the dismissal of the possibilities of eating disorders

amidst athletes since they embody a “healthy” form. Despite the presumption that coaches are the

first to acknowledge signs of an eating disorder among their athletes, in several cases these mentors

have blatantly ignored traits of anorexia or failed to detect any discrepancies at all. Decorated

distance runner Megan O’Grady at DIII Carroll University sought to fulfill the picturesque ideal

of a long-distance athlete through reduced calorie intake and a repeated binging and purging cycle.
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After struggling with immensely low weight and intestinal complications for multiple seasons,

O’Grady gave notice to her coach that she revoked her participation in the upcoming cross country

season. Coach Shawn Thielitz inculpates, “Megan didn’t tell me anything” (“Champion”) as he

warps his absence of awareness into her lack of accountability for not directly notifying him before

she was incapable to compete. Comparable cases have occurred where coaches expect the athlete

to advocate for themselves when in reality it is daunting for the athlete to admit to their illness

when they themselves may lack awareness of the intensity of it. While it is indispensable that

coaching staff create an environment in which athletes are comfortable to narrate their battle with

eating disorders, coaches must first be educated on indications, so the athlete has a support system

on the journey with the illness.

Society has placed increasing demands on the relative thinness of athletes rather than a

healthy, functioning figure, contributing to the detrimental emergence of eating disorders among

these athletic communities. Dependent on the nature of sport in which athletes participate greatly

contributes to their likelihood to develop anorexia or similar eating disorders, as individualistic

sports heighten the risk (National Eating Disorder Association). Athletes in fields such as running,

gymnastics, figure skating, and other sports that specifically emphasize leanness are pressured by

coaches and those above to remain slim and within definitive weight categories to ensure optimal

performance. The notion that there is a direct correlation between possessing a lower weight and

athletic success has forced athletes to sacrifice their physical well-being for the benefit of the game.

Alan Currie, an eating disorder specialist, references the idea ingrained in runners and addresses,

“Firstly, in endurance sports such as long-distance running, leanness is related to performance for

obvious physiological reasons. Runners who are several kilogrammes over their optimum

performance weight will perform less well” (Currie). Sculpted from flawed societal standards on
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weight, athletes are convinced they will be at a disadvantage if they weigh more despite the

obligation to maintain their body’s needs. In sports such as distance running, heavy emphasis is

exerted on slenderness, forcing athletes to obtain restrictive diets and obsessive exercise routines.

These distance runners are placed at a higher risk for developing anorexia as after completing an

Eating Disorder Screen for Primary Care, it was stressed, “In fact, three times as many females

screened positive compared to males, with 46% of females screening positive and 14% of males

screening positive” (Krebs et al). With almost half of the 272 Division 1 collegiate female distance

runners surveyed being placed at risk for anorexia, there are evident flaws within the culture

surrounding running and this population critically needs to be studied to observe trends in eating

disorders as rates are well above national averages. As anorexia is vastly common among

gymnasts, the NCAA concedes, “In 1972, the winning female gymnastics team had an average

height of 5 ft 3 in. and an average weight of 106 lb. In 1992, the average height was 4 ft 9 in. and

the average weight was 83 lb” (Johnson et al). While there was an obvious decline in the height of

these gymnasts, the severe weight gap unveils the ceaseless notion that it is crucial to be

underweight to perform better and please their own will for perfection as well as their coaching

staff.

With the emergence of anorexia in the media and online pro-ana sites, this eating disorder

has been romanticized to be an accolade people crave to earn despite the concealed, deadly reality

of the illness. Pro-ana websites allow aspiring anorexics, or wannarexics, to communicate and

follow direct advice on achieving desired weights or anorexia as a whole. A blog from a 16 year

old girl pursuing anorexia commends, “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. Saying no to food

is saying yes to skinny” (“Starving”). The ability to share all aspects of their journey towards

anorexia grants the individual a community of like-minded cohorts to compare results and plans
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to. These sites are incredibly dangerous as they encourage anorexic behaviors in others, ultimately

exacerbating the stigma as they normalize anorexia to be a lifestyle achievable for all rather than

the reality of a potentially fatal mental illness. The pro-ana movement adorned with “thinspiration”

images and phrases intended to motivate one to lose weight provide unrealistic and destructive

expectations for viewers. The same pro-ana blog scolds, “If you aren’t thin, you aren’t attractive”

(“Starving”). Society has established incredibly flawed standards in which the focus of beauty is

entirely directed towards being thin rather than flaunting one’s current character. These

“exemplary” platforms omit, “The mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times

higher than the death rate of ALL causes of death for females 15-24 years old” (“Eating”) as the

profound reality of the illness is entirely ignored. Similarly, the media on a national front has

portrayed anorexia to be glamorous and appealing, primarily in female models and athletes. While

not restricted to female athletes, there is a tendency for the media to sexualize their figure at a

greater likelihood than male athletes, who are portrayed as rugged and powerful. The physical

appearance of female athletes is solely emphasized over their athletic abilities, amplifying that

their look is of greater importance than their athletic achievements as exemplified by the magazine

cover in Appendix B [Appendix B]. Athletes with expert talent such as Alex Morgan, Serena

Williams, or Simone Biles are plastered along issues of sports related magazines in bikinis, in turn

solely emphasizing their toned and stunning figures rather than mentioning their accolades.

Without outside knowledge, one only considers their athletic figure and aspires to maintain a

similar character. Alarmingly, a study conducted at two NCAA D1 universities, surveying only

women, warns, “Nearly 18% of athletes and 26% of controls reported a past or current eating

disorder” (Gutgesell et al). The prevalence of anorexia among not only athletes, but control women
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is eminently steep, stressing the necessity to alter current societal priorities as media sexualizes

female athletes and fabricates unrealistic beauty expectations that women desire to uphold.

To minimize the abundance of cases of anorexia among athletes, it is exigent that coaches

emphasize overall strength versus leanness and encourage healthy habits in the realms of exercise

and diet, while providing preventative screenings to ensure awareness is inspired. One of several

fundamental issues in recognizing symptoms of anorexia with athletes is that trainers and coaches

are uninformed or unaware of how their athletes could be affected. Paul Krebs, a specialist in

health endurance of athletes relinquishes, “only 68.1% of certified athletic trainers for colleges had

ever attended an education program on disordered eating, and of these, only 28% had done so

within the year” (Krebs et al). Due to a lack of education on eating disorders, athletic trainers and

coaches must receive proper training in order to approach these illnesses properly and be conscious

of indicators. Such as with Megan O’Grady, coaches can overlook eating disorders for extensive

periods of time as they cannot decipher specific indications of these illnesses from the athletic

demands. However, Shawn Thielitz, O’Grady’s coach, began to reinforce the positive

achievements in the team’s career even when races failed to unfold as he wished. Through the

publication of this documentary, the NCAA, Thielitz, and cross country runner Megan O’Grady

stand at the foreground in promoting the need for conversation of eating disorders among athletes.

Through Megan’s success story of dominating the competition as she had refrained from a binging

period, hope is granted upon all athletes looking her way as they have the power to overcome their

struggle. The NCAA has taken the initiative to speak up about the appalling rates of eating

disorders as the video concludes, “Four in 10 male and female athletes also displayed habits that

put them at risk for these disorders” (“Champion”). Similarly, athletes themselves often dismiss

warning signs of unhealthy patterns as if they are performing well, the idea perpetuates that their
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current methods bring prosperity. Michigan Medicine, through a series of videos and articles titled

“Athletes Connected”, attempts to lead the discussion on eating disorders and mental illness in

athletics by sustaining the notion that there is an entire community undergoing similar experiences.

As each video focuses on a specific U-M student-athlete, including swimmer Kally Fayhee or

football player Will Heininger for instance, the U-M Depression Center, Michigan Athletic

Department, and U-M School of Public Health have collaborated to publicize and draw attention

to the significance of mental and physical health in athletes (“Athletes”). At the two unidentified

NCAA D1 schools surveying female athletes and controls on eating disorders, support and

counseling was provided for those affected to ensure they had a team to assist in recovery and

sharing their journey (Gutgesell et al). With an increase of preventative screenings for eating

disorders on the collegiate level and all others, coaches and trainers would be able to detect those

at risk before their health is in grave danger or formulate a recovery plan. The ignorance of

anorexia in athletes shall not prevail as the recognition and care towards these suffering individuals

needs to be exemplified in order to allow the evolution of a supportive athletic environment with

less emphasis on a thin figure. Taken from the inspiring and successful Megan O’Grady, one can

overcome their struggle with the assistance from others. Coach Thielitz praises, “Megan has taught

her that you can get through things. You don’t have to be this weight, this height, look this way,

be this way. You can be who you are and accept who you are” (“Champion”). One does not have

to fulfill “beauty standards” as those are only set by the individual themselves.
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Appendix A
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The qualities that compose a successful athlete and an anorexic individual are exceedingly

similar, contributing to the pervasiveness of eating disorders among athletes as these traits are

encouraged by both coaches and the individual themselves. Unnervingly, eating disorders

commonly go unnoticed in the athletic community as coaches encounter difficulty in recognizing

the signs that indicate their athlete is suffering.

Thompson, Ron A., and Roberta Trattner Sherman. “‘Good Athlete’ Traits and

Characteristics of Anorexia Nervosa: Are They Similar?” Eating Disorders, vol. 7, no. 3,

Fall 1999, p. 181. EBSCOhost.

Appendix B
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Alex Morgan, decorated United States Olympic soccer player, appears on the cover of a monthly

edition of Sports Illustrated, Swimsuit that is filled with female athletes in bathing suits. With no

mention of her athletic accolades, sole emphasis is placed on Morgan’s toned figure that

contributes to the idea that to be beautiful, one needs to be an exact replica of her.

“Swimsuit 2019.” Sports Illustrated. 2019.

Works Cited

“Athletes Connected.” University of Michigan. 2019.

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“Champion: Uphill battle.” Youtube, uploaded by NCAA. 16 July, 2015.

Currie, Alan. “Sport and Eating Disorders - Understanding and Managing the Risks.”

Asian Journal of Sports Medicine vol. 1,2 (2010): 63-8.

“Eating Disorder Statistics.” Mirasol Recovery Centers. 2018.

Gutgesell, Margaret E., Moreau, Kerrie L., and Thompson, Dixie L.. “Weight Concerns,

Problem Eating Behaviors, and Problem Drinking Behaviors in Female Collegiate

Athletes.” Journal of athletic training vol. 38,1 (2003): 62-66.

Johnson, Craig, Powers, Pauline S., and Dick, Randy. “Athletes and Eating Disorders:

The National Collegiate Athletic Association Study.” 15 March, 1999.

“Kally Fayhee | Athletes Connected.” Youtube, uploaded by Michigan Medicine. 26

April, 2017.

Krebs, Paul A., Dennison, Christopher R., Kellar, Lisa, and Lucas, Jeff. “Gender

Differences in Eating Disorder Risk among NCAA Division I Cross Country and Track

Student-Athletes.” Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 2019, Article ID 5035871, 5 pages,

2019.

National Eating Disorder Association. “Eating Disorders & Athletes.” 2018.

Osgood, Kelsey. How to Disappear Completely: On Modern Anorexia. London. Duckworth

Overlook. 2014.

“Starving Ana Sisters; an ana blog, by a starving girl, living in a skinny world.” 2019.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. DSM-5 Changes:

Implications for Child Serious Emotional Disturbance [Internet]. Rockville (MD):

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016 Jun. Table 19,

DSM-IV to DSM-5 Anorexia Nervosa Comparison.

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“Swimsuit 2019.” Sports Illustrated. 2019.

Thompson, Ron A., and Roberta Trattner Sherman. “‘Good Athlete’ Traits and Characteristics of

Anorexia Nervosa: Are They Similar?” Eating Disorders, vol. 7, no. 3, Fall 1999, p. 181.

EBSCOhost.

Annotated Bibliography

“Athletes Connected.” University of Michigan. 2017.

The University of Michigan is a well-renowned public research university in addition to

being an NCAA Division 1 school as well as a member of the Big Ten Conference.
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Specifically composed of the U-M Depression Center, Michigan Athletic Department,

and U-M School of Public Health, these departments seek to inform and publicize the
raw research compiled of athletes and mental health, ensuring their data is accurate. The
source is composed of mainly qualitative data as it seeks to diverge from numerical
values due to the nature of the subject. For example, “As athletes, we are often told to put
on muscle, lose weight, get fit, put on weight, and/or make a weight class, these messages
can be overwhelming and all consuming” (“Athletes”). This campaign provides hope and
support to athletes nationwide struggling with a variety of mental health issues and
allows for people to connect in a safe community. The pressures these athletes face
propel how athletics emphasize many traits that athletes feel the need to obsessively
exercise or restrict their diet to fulfill. With specific examples of NCAA D1 athletes
struggling with eating disorders, it provides a leader in the field to invigorate hope among
others.

“Champion: Uphill battle.” Youtube, uploaded by NCAA. 16 July, 2015.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is an organization that seeks to provide

opportunity to all athletes through classroom and athletic success. As the NCAA looks to
protect the well-being of athletes, they seek to promote a safe athletic environment for all.
They are an authority in the field of athletics as they publish all findings from collegiate
athletics. This video consists entirely of quantitative data as the journey of Megan
O’Grady is elaborated on including direct experiences such as, “but as the weight
dropped, the pressure to compete remained” (“Champion”). Her story directly enforces
how the culture surrounding athletics has contributed to the emergence of her eating
disorder and the ignorance of many to fail to detect it. However, it also provides hope as
with the help of coaches and team support, O’Grady began to dominate races without her
restrictive habits which propels the notion that recovery is possible with proper influence.

Currie, Alan. “Sport and Eating Disorders - Understanding and Managing the Risks.”
Asian Journal of Sports Medicine vol. 1,2 (2010): 63-8.

Alan Currie is a doctor specializing in eating disorders in relation to athletics while

promoting awareness of the prevalence of these disorders. Published by the US National
Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, the information provided is reliable to
educate the public on this pervasive issue. This source utilizes mainly qualitative data
with some tables containing statistical evidence throughout. The qualitative evidence
includes, “Firstly, in endurance sports such as long-distance running, leanness is related
to performance for obvious physiological reasons. Runners who are several kilogrammes
over their optimum performance weight will perform less well” (Currie). This journal
addresses how the culture surrounding athletics creates surmounted pressure to be lean
 Oberlin 15

and develop unhealthy eating or exercise patterns. By including the aspects of sports that
contribute to eating disorders and the prevalence of anorexia as well as others, it will
assist in conveying the need to recognize and reform the current stigma surrounding
athletes with eating disorders.

“Eating Disorder Statistics.” Mirasol Recovery Centers. 2018.

Mirasol is an eating disorder recovery center that specializes in anorexia, bulimia,

binge eating, and co-occurring conditions. The center focuses on individualized treatment
rather than the methods of other corporate centers and has been successfully operating for
over twenty years. This source utilizes a balanced mixture of both qualitative and
quantitative data. The qualitative data includes, “Anorexia nervosa has the highest death
rate of any psychiatric illness (including major depression)” (“Eating”). This source, with
the abundance of alarming statistics, reinforces the severity and high presence of anorexia
in the general population. The statistics will demonstrate how prevalent these eating
disorders are and further emphasize the need to alter current approaches to dealing with
them.

Gutgesell, Margaret E., Moreau, Kerrie L., and Thompson, Dixie L.. “Weight Concerns,
Problem Eating Behaviors, and Problem Drinking Behaviors in Female Collegiate
Athletes.” Journal of athletic training vol. 38,1 (2003): 62-66.

Margaret Gutgesell graduated from the University of Wisconsin School Of Medicine

with her PhD and has completed research with the University of Virginia on various
occasions. She now specializes in adolescent development and has written several other
research journals on similar topics, asserting her expertise in the field. This source
consists primarily of quantitative data as it discusses survey results, accompanied with
select fragments of qualitative data. Some of the numerical evidence includes,
“Approximately 26% of the controls and 18% of the athletes reported a past or current
eating disorder (eg, binge eating, bulimia, anorexia)” (Gutgesell et al). This source
reinforces how apparent eating disorders are among the female athletic population as well
as the general female population, suggesting more attention needs to be designated
towards this group as a whole. These statistics propel how athletics and societal standards
of beauty have contributed to alarmingly high rates of eating disorders among these
communities and reform is imperative.

Johnson, Craig, Powers, Pauline S., and Dick, Randy. “Athletes and Eating Disorders:
The National Collegiate Athletic Association Study.” 15 March, 1999.

Craig Johnson is the Chief Science Officer and Director of the Eating Recovery
Center and has been involved for over 35 years working in the realms of eating disorders
 Oberlin 16

as founder of several related organizations. The NCAA provides statistical information

from the study performed to publicize the prevalence of eating disorders among
collegiate athletes as it is the organization to ensure athletic success and well-being. This
study consists of primarily quantitative data, including, “Using these criteria, 25% of
female athletes and 9.5% of male athletes were considered at risk for anorexia nervosa”
(Johnson). This NCAA study reinforces how pervasive eating disorders are among
collegiate athletes despite the lack of recognition from outside stakeholders. Similarly, it
propels how sports have grown to emphasize thinness of athletes and how this has altered
current athletic culture with the stigma surrounding eating disorders.

“Kally Fayhee | Athletes Connected.” Youtube, uploaded by Michigan Medicine. 26

April, 2017.

The University of Michigan Medicine is a sector of the University of Michigan, a well-

renowned public research university in addition to being an NCAA Division 1 school as
well as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The U-M Medicine is the academic
medical center at the university that seeks to provide assistance in health-care to all with
their direct care and publications, reasserting their credibility as an esteemed center. The
video was compiled of primarily qualitative data as Kally refrained from elaborating on
her personal numerical values. For example, “I suffered in silence, fearful of judgment.
I'd always thought that struggling was a sign of weakness that I had to tough it out”
(“Kally”). Her direct recounts emphasize how the surmounted pressure on collegiate
athletes promote unhealthy habits as she assumed success was defined by measurements.
Kally’s journey propels how seeking help promotes recovery and that there is hope
despite previous struggle.

Krebs, Paul A., Dennison, Christopher R., Kellar, Lisa, and Lucas, Jeff. “Gender
Differences in Eating Disorder Risk among NCAA Division I Cross Country and Track
Student-Athletes.” Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 2019, Article ID 5035871, 5 pages,
2019.

Paul Krebs is certified in sports medicine after graduating from Wright State University
Boonshoft School of Medicine, specializing in the health of endurance athletes. Krebs
and his co authors' direct experience and medical backgrounds with these athletes ensures
they are able to provide relevant information in their research. The source mainly utilized
quantitative data as it is based on a study conducted to discover the prevalence of eating
disorders among collegiate distance runners, such as, “For instance, 30.51% of females
answered positively to the questions, “are you dissatisfied with your eating patterns,”
whereas 18.85% of males answered positively” (Krebs). This journal addresses the
presence of eating disorders in collegiate runners and how the counterparts of these
 Oberlin 17

athletes should address these patterns. By including numerical data on how prominent
anorexia is among these athletes, it propels how pervasive this issue is despite dismissal
from society, stressing the need for recognition.

Osgood, Kelsey. How to Disappear Completely: On Modern Anorexia. London.

Duckworth Overlook. 2014.

Kelsey Osgood is a graduate from Columbia University and a recovering anorexic as this
novel provides her memoir of direct experiences with this eating disorder from a young
age to relatively present day. Her honesty provides an unbiased view into her struggle
with anorexia as she seeks to alter current culture surrounding written text on the illness.
Osgood omits quantitative data from her writing in order to stray from the idea that
numerical weight or caloric values are definitive, so the book consists almost entirely of
qualitative data such as, “I hid in the stairwells of my college dormitory after running the
twelve flights bottom to top and slammed my head into the concrete wall” (Osgood). This
book aids in diminishing the stigma surrounding mental illness by straying from
traditional narratives on anorexia by not granting the reader a step-by-step guide on her
tactics. Osgood’s focus on the comparative nature of the illness and the gruesome truths
behind anorexia propel how uninformed society is on the brutal reality of the disease and
what success is defined as for an anorexic.

National Eating Disorder Association. “Eating Disorders & Athletes.” 2018.

The National Eating Disorder Association is the nation’s non-profit organization to

educate and promote awareness of eating disorders while providing support to those
affected. Their information is reliable as they seek to inform the public with current
standards and qualitative data. With few numerical data points, the article consists mainly
of qualitative data including, “Though most athletes with eating disorders are female,
male athletes are also at risk—especially those competing in sports that tend to place an
emphasis on the athlete’s diet, appearance, size, and weight requirements, such as
wrestling, bodybuilding, crew, and running” (NEDA). This article evaluates how the lack
of recognition towards athletes with eating disorders has developed and what puts
athletes at greater risk for them. Uncovering common contributors to eating disorders
among athletes allows for hope in the future for prevention in later generations.

National Eating Disorder Association. “Eating Disorder Myths.” 2018.

The National Eating Disorder Association is the nation’s non-profit organization to

educate and promote awareness of eating disorders while providing support to those
affected. Their information is reliable as they seek to inform the public with current
 Oberlin 18

standards and qualitative data. The article consists of primarily qualitative data yet the
few numerical data points that effectively emphasize the severity of eating disorders. For
example, “Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness. Up
to 20% of individuals with chronic anorexia nervosa will die as a result of their illness”
(NEDA). This source evaluates the misconceptions behind eating disorders as a whole
and attempts to abolish these fallacies. It exhibits how uneducated the majority of society
is on eating disorders as the length of myths is extensive and contributes to how distorted
people’s views on mental illness are.

“Starving Ana Sisters; an ana blog, by a starving girl, living in a skinny world.” 2019.

Written by an anonymous sixteen year old girl, the author lacks credibility as the
omission of their background leads to assumptions being drawn. The blog incorporates
both qualitative data and quantitative data in the form of calorie counts or weight goals
such as, “Assuming I eat 1/2 rice cake, half the portion of cottage cheese, and the
cucumber for lunch, I’ll consume about 55 calories” (“Starving”). The majority of the
blog consists of qualitative data including advice for other aspiring anorexics on
inspiration or rules they should abide by. This source provides an example of how the
media exacerbates the stigma surrounding anorexia with pro-ana sites such as this one. It
exhibits how harmful comparing the disease can be and how flawed societal expectations
are that people believe they must be as thin as possible to be beautiful.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. DSM-5 Changes:

Implications for Child Serious Emotional Disturbance [Internet]. Rockville (MD):
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2016 Jun. Table 19,
DSM-IV to DSM-5 Anorexia Nervosa Comparison.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is a branch of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, ensuring their data published is reliable as
they seek to improve services for those affected by substance abuse and mental illness.
They publicize all findings to accurately reflect nationwide trends and grant accessible
research to all. This source includes primarily qualitative data as it describes the
requirements for anorexia including, “Restriction of energy intake relative to
requirements, leading to a significant low body weight in the context of the age, sex,
developmental trajectory, and physical health (less than minimally normal/expected1)”
(SAMHSA). This table directly reinforces how the stigma surrounding anorexia has been
altered due to a minor change in the next edition of the DSM-V. By including both past
and prior requirements to diagnose anorexia, it propels how with further knowledge and
education the diagnosis may become less definitive, focusing less on numerical values.

“Swimsuit 2019.” Sports Illustrated. 2019.

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Sports Illustrated is an American sports magazine company that publicizes sports news,
analysis, statistics, and other information in related categories. However, the Sports
Illustrated Swimsuit Edition simply exploits female athletes with bikini images and fails
to recognize their athletic talent, diminishing their credibility as it is solely images. This
source includes no quantitative data, yet the cover of Alex Morgan on the beach provides
qualitative data of current beauty and media standards. This source greatly exacerbates
the stigma surrounding anorexia as women and men alike will take extreme measures to
regard themselves as these athletes appear. This image propels how flawed societal
expectations are as there is no mention of Morgan’s accolades or athletic background and
only draws focus to her modelistic figure.

Thompson, Ron A., and Roberta Trattner Sherman. “‘Good Athlete’ Traits and Characteristics of
Anorexia Nervosa: Are They Similar?” Eating Disorders, vol. 7, no. 3, Fall 1999, p. 181.
EBSCOhost.

Ron Thompson is a psychologist that specializes in the treatment of eating disorders and
works with the Athletic Department at Indiana University. Thompson serves as the eating
disorder representative on the NCAA Mental Health Task Force and has co authored
several academic works on the Female Athlete Triad and other similar areas. This source
consists of a balance between qualitative and quantitative data as both numerical values
obtained from athletic surveys and experiences are relayed. Some of the qualitative
evidence includes, “With their need for approval and tendency to be overcomplient, these
individuals, if they are also athletes, are apt to train hard or overtrain to please their
coaches or others who have an interest or investment in their performance” (Thompson et
al). Thompson’s writing reinforces the lack of awareness of eating disorders, specifically
anorexia, in athletes and how this contributes to the stigma surrounding this illness. This
source greatly exemplifies how traits of anorexia can be misinterpreted as athleticism,
stressing the dire need for education of coaches and trainers to be cognizant of alarming
symptoms.