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Eating Disorders: public or silent enemy?
- Thread starter sisinka
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yes
I didn't see it mentioned here (and if I omitted sth I apologize) but I remember very vividly how Zhenya Medvedeva described enthusiastically her first encounter with a dietician which took place only after she moved to Canada to train with Brian. Only then. While being OSM and 2 time World Champion in training since the nursery age. She also exclaimed it was the first time when she was explained that going vegan/vegetarian would not hurt her health, neither her weight.
She developed a different body then, more focused on strength than thinness, and was very cruelly body shamed by Russian fans for being "fat" and "heavy" They attributed the twists and turns in her career to the change in her weight while in fact all of it was caused by chronic injuries resulting from unhealthy and improper training regimen, including improper eating and weight-related habits, common in her former training camp which they conveniently ignored.
She developed a different body then, more focused on strength than thinness, and was very cruelly body shamed by Russian fans for being "fat" and "heavy" They attributed the twists and turns in her career to the change in her weight while in fact all of it was caused by chronic injuries resulting from unhealthy and improper training regimen, including improper eating and weight-related habits, common in her former training camp which they conveniently ignored.
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I think mistakes were made in some Russian camps and they have learned from those mistakes, nursing skaters when injured, allowing them to carry more muscle (look at Valieva now). It's no coincidence that when Medvedeva was at her thinnest at test skates in 2020 it's when her back injury got bad enough to more or less put her out of the sport. No way someone with carrying a chronic back injury should have been forced onto the ice. I think Tutberitze would have learned from that (I would like to think so).
Water intake ban (just rinsing your mouth instead of drinking) leading to problems with urinating was another malpractice which Eteri girls spoke openly about, thinking it completely normal. And from what we know, it was well compliant with still in Beijng.
I understand from skaters' confessions quoted above that malpractices related not just to eating but to drinking water were much more common among skaters from different clubs and countries. Knowing how important water intake is for the overall health, it truly horrifies me.
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I remember her being excited she could eat blueberries and watermelon. How sad.
I think it is prohibited. I was looking for some materials about it:
https://nationalpost.com/news/canad...wcm/3802ccd9-7e34-40e1-80ad-fa5e81b54888/amp/
- Puberty blockers, officially known as gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, were originally developed for children with precocious puberty, when puberty hits too soon. In those cases, the drugs are stopped once the child reaches an appropriate age for puberty.
https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/dta.2256
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and its small peptide synthetic analogues are included in Section S2 of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List
https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resourc...direct-androgen-doping-gnrh-analog-leuprolide
- Consequently, GnRH and its analogs are also prohibited in sports for their potential to act as doping and/or masking agents.
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I'm pretty sure I read about the use and that it's a legal although questionable means. But maybe there are puberty blockers on another base?
I do believe that if there is a diagnose for the use, it should be allowed (pubertas praecox). Nowadays there is a new diagnose – transgender and gender-diverse youth.
Here is exception for transgender athletes:
- Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone analogues are currently prohibited in male athletes due to their initial stimulation effect on testosterone. Transgender athletes who are eligible to participate as females in their sport do not require a TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption)
for GnRH analogues. If a transgender athlete is feminizing the body while still participating as a male in their sport and is therefore subject to anti-doping regulations for male athletes, then a TUE should be requested.
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that is so awful. i have so much more to say on this but will keep my mouth shut for not derailing the thread's sake.
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I wish I still had a copy I gave away of Isabelle Brasseur's autobiography, where she mentions that she took those blockers. Now I can't remember the medical reason she gave, but it didn't sound right or sit right with me when I read it.
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Isabelle has been vocal about heart health and is taking beta blockers: (I did not know she almost lost Gabriella during childbirth.
)
Former Olympic figure skater Isabelle Brasseur talks heart health in Toronto
Brasseur — who suffers from a congenital heart disease that nearly killed her — wants other women to take the health of their hearts more seriously.
www.thestar.com
Gender dysphoria and "precocious puberty" (Developing sexual characteristics at age 8 or younger) are medically indicated reasons for puberty blockers.
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I do remember it was when she was younger, before she was diagnosed with heart problems, so it was probably the latter reason, only explained so vaguely it made it sound as if she was encouraged to take puberty blockers by her parents and coach just to avoid changes to her skating. I can understand her not wanting to go into detail at that time, I just wish the book had been better edited to make it clear it wasn't a grey-area case that, the way it was written, sounded uncomfortably like drug-cheating. Knowing more about her now, I'm amazed she was able to skate as long and as well as she did with all those health problems! Wow!Isabelle has been vocal about heart health and is taking beta blockers: (I did not know she almost lost Gabriella during childbirth.
Former Olympic figure skater Isabelle Brasseur talks heart health in Toronto
Brasseur — who suffers from a congenital heart disease that nearly killed her — wants other women to take the health of their hearts more seriously.
Gender dysphoria and "precocious puberty" (Developing sexual characteristics at age 8 or younger) are medically indicated reasons for puberty blockers.
One thing I have to explain. Puberty blockers are not beta blockers, that is different medication.
Thank you @el henry for the article.
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And I should have made it clearer that Isabelle, in her book, was indeed talking about puberty-delaying medication. Later in the book she discusses her episodes of sudden fainting and the tests, medications, etc for that, but the earlier health problem wasn't made clear (the book being written and published before the days when celebrities gave out every little detail of their private lives) and it came off sounding odd. Now I can see what the problem probably was.
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/athletes-eating-disorders
- page of National Eating Disorders Association in NY
- page contains nice handbills with information about Eating disorders among college and high school athletes
"…one-third of female athletes reported attitudes and symptoms placing them at risk for anorexia nervosa.
…among high school athletes in aesthetic sports 42% reported disorder eating and they were 8x more likely to incur injury."
https://ibb.co/WvVH7SP
- page of National Eating Disorders Association in NY
- page contains nice handbills with information about Eating disorders among college and high school athletes
"…one-third of female athletes reported attitudes and symptoms placing them at risk for anorexia nervosa.
…among high school athletes in aesthetic sports 42% reported disorder eating and they were 8x more likely to incur injury."
https://ibb.co/WvVH7SP
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/help/coaches-trainers
- page of National Eating Disorders Association in NY
- COACHES AND TRAINERS
1. Take warning signs and eating disordered behaviors seriously! Cardiac arrest and suicide are the leading causes of death for people with eating disorders.
2. If an athlete is chronically dieting or exhibits mildly abnormal eating, refer her or him to a health professional with eating disorder expertise. Early detection increases the likelihood of successful treatment; left untreated the problem may progress to an eating disorders.
3. De-emphasize weight by not weighing athletes and eliminate comments about weight. Instead, focus on other areas in which athletes can improve performance. For example, focus on strength and physical conditioning, as well as the mental and emotional components of performance.
4. Don’t assume that reducing body fat or weight will enhance performance. While it may lead to improved performance, studies show this does not apply to all athletes. It is not uncommon for individuals attempting to lose weight to develop eating-disorder symptoms, which can physically weaken the athlete. Performance should not be at the expense of the athlete’s health.
5. Instruct coaches and trainers to recognize signs and symptoms of eating disorders, (weight loss, fatigue, over-training, refusal to eat with the team, frequent injuries, etc.) and understand their role in prevention. Eating-disordered individuals often hide their symptoms out of shame and embarrassment.
6. Provide athletes with accurate information regarding weight, weight loss, body composition, nutrition, and sports performance to reduce misinformation and to challenge unhealthy practices.
7. Emphasize the health risks of low weight, like low bone density, lowering of immunity and auto-immune illnesses. The athlete should be referred for medical assessments in these cases.
8. Understand why weight is such a sensitive and personal issue. Eliminate derogatory comments or behaviors about weight—no matter how slight. Celebrate the athlete for talents and strengths beyond the physical; work on developing body, mind and spirit. If there is concern about an athlete’s weight, the athlete should be referred for an assessment to a professional skilled in diagnosing and treating eating disorders.
9. Do not automatically curtail athletic participation if an athlete is found to have eating problems, unless warranted by a medical condition. Consider the athlete’s health, physical and emotional safety, and self-image when making decisions regarding an athlete’s level of participation in his/her sport.
10. It is essential for coaches and trainers to explore their own values and attitudes regarding weight, dieting, and body image, and how their values and attitudes may inadvertently affect their athletes. They should understand their role in promoting a positive self-image and self-esteem in their athletes. Remember, if athletes do not take care of their bodies, they risk losing their athletic careers at a very young age.
- page of National Eating Disorders Association in NY
- COACHES AND TRAINERS
TIPS FOR COACHES: PREVENTING EATING DISORDERS IN ATHLETES
1. Take warning signs and eating disordered behaviors seriously! Cardiac arrest and suicide are the leading causes of death for people with eating disorders.
2. If an athlete is chronically dieting or exhibits mildly abnormal eating, refer her or him to a health professional with eating disorder expertise. Early detection increases the likelihood of successful treatment; left untreated the problem may progress to an eating disorders.
3. De-emphasize weight by not weighing athletes and eliminate comments about weight. Instead, focus on other areas in which athletes can improve performance. For example, focus on strength and physical conditioning, as well as the mental and emotional components of performance.
4. Don’t assume that reducing body fat or weight will enhance performance. While it may lead to improved performance, studies show this does not apply to all athletes. It is not uncommon for individuals attempting to lose weight to develop eating-disorder symptoms, which can physically weaken the athlete. Performance should not be at the expense of the athlete’s health.
5. Instruct coaches and trainers to recognize signs and symptoms of eating disorders, (weight loss, fatigue, over-training, refusal to eat with the team, frequent injuries, etc.) and understand their role in prevention. Eating-disordered individuals often hide their symptoms out of shame and embarrassment.
6. Provide athletes with accurate information regarding weight, weight loss, body composition, nutrition, and sports performance to reduce misinformation and to challenge unhealthy practices.
7. Emphasize the health risks of low weight, like low bone density, lowering of immunity and auto-immune illnesses. The athlete should be referred for medical assessments in these cases.
8. Understand why weight is such a sensitive and personal issue. Eliminate derogatory comments or behaviors about weight—no matter how slight. Celebrate the athlete for talents and strengths beyond the physical; work on developing body, mind and spirit. If there is concern about an athlete’s weight, the athlete should be referred for an assessment to a professional skilled in diagnosing and treating eating disorders.
9. Do not automatically curtail athletic participation if an athlete is found to have eating problems, unless warranted by a medical condition. Consider the athlete’s health, physical and emotional safety, and self-image when making decisions regarding an athlete’s level of participation in his/her sport.
10. It is essential for coaches and trainers to explore their own values and attitudes regarding weight, dieting, and body image, and how their values and attitudes may inadvertently affect their athletes. They should understand their role in promoting a positive self-image and self-esteem in their athletes. Remember, if athletes do not take care of their bodies, they risk losing their athletic careers at a very young age.
The need to consult Nutrition specialist was already mentioned.
How figure skaters describe their eating habits and restrictions / recommendations:
https://fs-gossips.com/anna-shcherb...ieved-that-the-less-i-ate-the-better-i-train/
- Anna Shcherbakova: "Everything was fine for me before the Olympic season. Whether it’s genetics or being in my childhood years, I had no issues at all, I could eat whatever I wanted....During the Olympic season, I entered a transitional age, and it became harder to manage my weight. To maintain the optimal weight, I had to go through a lot. I tried every possible and impossible diet."
- What did you have for breakfast?
Anna Shcherbakova: "Oh, I think I hardly ate anything there...At that moment, I believed that the less I ate, the better I would train."
It looks like Anna had no nutrition specialist behind her back in 2022.
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/17/sports/olympics/17icedancers.html
- Tanith Belbin
- "Belbin began reading books about nutrition and eating lunch at the rink. She learned to eat foods that would best sustain an athlete’s body. (after coaching change in 2008)
- Belbin says she wishes she had learned the importance of nutrition long ago. She said U.S. Figure Skating officials would have provided a nutritional counselor if she had asked them for one. But that phone call “never fit into her busy day,” Belbin said. In the end, she preferred educating herself."
Tanith was 24 years old coming to Linichuk & Karponosov's coaching team, no nutrition specialist consultation before mentioned. And maybe even after as she preferred to educate herself.
https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/figure-skating-eating-disorders_a_23359385
- Gabrielle Daleman
- "I wrote down the calories and then I would burn that off, and then burn double it."
https://deadspin.com/alina-zagitova-says-she-didnt-drink-water-during-the-20-1832459869
- Alina Zagitova
- "Generally, I restricted myself during the Olympic Games. I was, you can say, not drinking water at all. That is, we just rinsed our mouths and spit it all out."
https://www.youngausint.org.au/post/compete-don-t-eat
- Evgenia Medvedeva - "recalled that she “lived half-starving” while training in the lead up to the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics."
- Yulia Lipnitskaya - "...during the training season often relied entirely on a diet of "powdered nutrients"."
https://www.insider.com/nathan-chen-high-protein-daily-diet-us-figure-skating-champion-2022-2
- Nathan Chen's diet, article from 2022
- "...an average day of eating for Chen could be:
Breakfast: Smoothie, egg wrap, yogurt, and corn flakes
Snacks: Yogurt, dark chocolate almonds, fruit, or Special K bars
Lunch: Meat sandwich, yogurt, fruit
Dinner: Rice, pasta, or bread with fish, red meat, or chicken, plus a vegetable and sometimes soup"
https://www.usada.org/spirit-of-sport/nutrition/nathan-chen-morning-food/
- Nathan Chen: "I usually train in the mornings, and if I don’t have a good breakfast, I start the day lagging and generally fatigued. I’ve also found that it’s really easy to get injured if I’m not well nourished....The best foods to fuel your body can depend on what type of training you’re doing, which is why it can be helpful to discuss your nutrition habits with a nutritionist."
https://youtu.be/Z_lcimZVigU?si=lszOCz_6z72Mgwud
- Evgenia Medvedeva started to work with Nutrition specialist while training in Canada
- from 0:53 to 4:00 she describes and prepares her food (video is in Russian language)
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuKMHShIuOG/?igshid=MzY1NDJmNzMyNQ==
- ISU posted video in July 2023 with ice dancer Holly Harris presenting what she eats during day
How figure skaters describe their eating habits and restrictions / recommendations:
https://fs-gossips.com/anna-shcherb...ieved-that-the-less-i-ate-the-better-i-train/
- Anna Shcherbakova: "Everything was fine for me before the Olympic season. Whether it’s genetics or being in my childhood years, I had no issues at all, I could eat whatever I wanted....During the Olympic season, I entered a transitional age, and it became harder to manage my weight. To maintain the optimal weight, I had to go through a lot. I tried every possible and impossible diet."
- What did you have for breakfast?
Anna Shcherbakova: "Oh, I think I hardly ate anything there...At that moment, I believed that the less I ate, the better I would train."
It looks like Anna had no nutrition specialist behind her back in 2022.
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/17/sports/olympics/17icedancers.html
- Tanith Belbin
- "Belbin began reading books about nutrition and eating lunch at the rink. She learned to eat foods that would best sustain an athlete’s body. (after coaching change in 2008)
- Belbin says she wishes she had learned the importance of nutrition long ago. She said U.S. Figure Skating officials would have provided a nutritional counselor if she had asked them for one. But that phone call “never fit into her busy day,” Belbin said. In the end, she preferred educating herself."
Tanith was 24 years old coming to Linichuk & Karponosov's coaching team, no nutrition specialist consultation before mentioned. And maybe even after as she preferred to educate herself.
https://www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/figure-skating-eating-disorders_a_23359385
- Gabrielle Daleman
- "I wrote down the calories and then I would burn that off, and then burn double it."
https://deadspin.com/alina-zagitova-says-she-didnt-drink-water-during-the-20-1832459869
- Alina Zagitova
- "Generally, I restricted myself during the Olympic Games. I was, you can say, not drinking water at all. That is, we just rinsed our mouths and spit it all out."
https://www.youngausint.org.au/post/compete-don-t-eat
- Evgenia Medvedeva - "recalled that she “lived half-starving” while training in the lead up to the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics."
- Yulia Lipnitskaya - "...during the training season often relied entirely on a diet of "powdered nutrients"."
https://www.insider.com/nathan-chen-high-protein-daily-diet-us-figure-skating-champion-2022-2
- Nathan Chen's diet, article from 2022
- "...an average day of eating for Chen could be:
Breakfast: Smoothie, egg wrap, yogurt, and corn flakes
Snacks: Yogurt, dark chocolate almonds, fruit, or Special K bars
Lunch: Meat sandwich, yogurt, fruit
Dinner: Rice, pasta, or bread with fish, red meat, or chicken, plus a vegetable and sometimes soup"
https://www.usada.org/spirit-of-sport/nutrition/nathan-chen-morning-food/
- Nathan Chen: "I usually train in the mornings, and if I don’t have a good breakfast, I start the day lagging and generally fatigued. I’ve also found that it’s really easy to get injured if I’m not well nourished....The best foods to fuel your body can depend on what type of training you’re doing, which is why it can be helpful to discuss your nutrition habits with a nutritionist."
https://youtu.be/Z_lcimZVigU?si=lszOCz_6z72Mgwud
- Evgenia Medvedeva started to work with Nutrition specialist while training in Canada
- from 0:53 to 4:00 she describes and prepares her food (video is in Russian language)
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuKMHShIuOG/?igshid=MzY1NDJmNzMyNQ==
- ISU posted video in July 2023 with ice dancer Holly Harris presenting what she eats during day
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- Jan 29, 2007
- Country
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One, less talked eating disorder is orthorexia. It may also lead to anorexia. I read that fitness athletes are sometimes quite accurate what they eat. I don't remember was it an athlete or someone else, who told that it came so far that she weighed even lettuce leaves to make sure she does eat exactly what needed, not less or not more. I am telling this, because an athlete can look healthy to us, but orthorexia is much that healthy eating controls life so much, that a piece of cake at somebody's birthday party may be in thoughts for a long time, because it is not healthy. I am not targeting this to any special skater or athlete, but hope this is also gets some attention. It is very much mental. There is nothing bad to eat healthy but if it starts to control the whole life, the affect is not good. And after if eating a piece of cake at somebody's birthday gives bad conscience, then a person may start to think I must make it to myself by eating something less, this thing is what may be the beginning of anorexia.
Thank you for posting. It is very sad that some people write bad comments about female figure skater’s body shape at social media. This has possibility that female figure skaters find bad comments. Social media is easy to write and find both good comments and bad comments. I think figure skaters think more seriously about body shape than fans or audience. So, it is very delicate to show any opinions and feelings even if these are good comments. Thanks to this posting, I realize again that when posting something, I should considerate whether the post is good or bad at social media. Also, I praise the people who open eating disorder. This helps and gives empathy to other figure skaters who have trouble about it.
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- Dec 7, 2022
True, I think especially in hobby athletes (who take their hobby very seriously) this is a huge factor.
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