Health Risks Due to Performance Pressures on Athletes Identified at iaedp's Symposium 2012

PEKIN, Ill., Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Presented for the first time, "Athletes and Eating Disorders: Risk Factors, Identification, Treatment and Prevention" by Ron A. Thompson, PhD., FAED, and Roberta Trattner Sherman, PhD., FAED, will combine didactic and experiential methods to educate eating disorder professionals on recognizing sport body stereotypes, highlighting the similarities and differences in risk factors, indicators and desired health and body image results across different genders and sports. The researchers also discuss the role coaches can play in unintentionally encouraging this harmful behavior to foster healthier communication tactics.

"Athletes endure constant scrutiny of their bodies and are accustomed to pushing their bodies to extremes," said Bonnie Harken, Managing Director of The iaedp Foundation, host of Symposium 2012 in Charleston, SC from March 22 – 25. "This workshop brings to light the many similarities between 'good athlete' stereotypes and eating disorder traits, emphasizing the need for eating disorder professionals' active involvement in promoting a healthy training environment."

The pressure to perform is often manifested in a closely regulated diet and a heightened focus on body weight and image. Competition in physical performance also has a tendency to inspire comparison and as a result, competition, in physical appearance.

Combatting these tendencies is crucial for athletes to obtain optimal health, which will enable long-term benefits like optimal physical performance and overall enjoyment of the sport. According to the presentation, cultivating a healthy training environment for an athlete is a "team effort" involving action from both coaches and eating disorder professionals.

By connecting the expectations competitive sports associate with "good athletes," Drs. Thompson and Sherman illuminate the unique rationale at-risk athletes have for disordered eating and unrealistic, even dangerous, body image goals. Fully understanding the causes and mentality of athletes struggling with harmful eating, exercise behavior and body image goals is key to providing effective treatment and inspiring healthy changes in all sports.

About iaedp:

Since 1985, the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals Foundation  has provided education and training standards to an international and multidisciplinary group of various healthcare treatment providers and helping professions.

iaedp is excited about Charleston as the site for iaedp Symposium 2012! For more information, visit:  International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals.

Contact: Susie Lomelino/Sarah Drew
[email protected]/[email protected]
214.269.2092/214.269.2087

SOURCE International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals