Athletes and Eating Disorders
© Heather Mudgett.
For women, gymnasts and dancers are reported to have a higher incidence of eating disorders than that of the general population. This is likely because of the unrealistic body type that is expected of dancers and gymnasts. In 1976, the average gymnast was 5'3" tall and 105lbs. In 1992, the average was 4'9" and 88lbs. (I think I was 4'9" and 88lbs when I was 8!) Ice skating, track, cross country, swimming, and many other sports are also known for the number of eating disorder cases which are reported. You can learn more about eating disorders in the ice skating world, at The Cutting Edge.
Last year, UC Berkley softball player Theresa Kilgariff had a heart attack. Doctors have attributed her heart attack and failing health to her bulimia. Coaches, friends, and teammates were unaware that she even had an eating disorder (see what I mean about secrets?). Theresa spent nearly two months in a coma. It's been over a year since her heart attack, and she is still undergoing physical therapy. You can read an article about her situation at Comatose Student Awakens.
I've mentioned in previous articles about Christy Henrich, a world class gymnast, who died in after battling with anorexia. In the late '80s, 4'10" Christy was competing well at 90 lbs when a U.S. gymnastics judge told her she would have to lose weight to make the 1988 U.S. Olympic team. Her weight became an obsession for her from that point forward, and she died in 1994 weighing less than 60 lbs. You can read more about Christy at While the World Watches.
Unfortunately, eating disorders are becoming much more common among younger athletes as well. One article I read, reports the mortality rate among adolescent athletes with eating disorder to be 10-15%, with death due to cardiovascular failure, endocrine disturbances, or suicide. You can find this article at Eating Disorders in the Young Athlete
