EATING DISORDERS IN MALE ATHLETES 4
Running head: EATING DISORDERS IN MALE ATHLETES 1
Eating disorders in male athletes
Name
Institution
Abstract
Eating disorders refer to health problems characterized by irregular eating behavior and bad concern regarding body mass and shape. Eating problems include excessive or insufficient food intake which may be detrimental to one’s health. Some of the known eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating and Bulimia Nervosa. Athletes are more prone to eating disorders as compared to the average individual. According to studies eating disturbances among athlete, males are on the rise as leanness is considered good form in the sport. Males attract less focus due to the notion that the condition is not common in the boy child world making the problem remain highly unattended in men. Because there are no known ways of controlling the behavior, treatment for the same is challenging although psychotherapy and medication are usually used. The treatment bears more fruits when approached from multiple fronts for example by visiting dieticians, psychiatrists, and doctors among others. Male athletes need to collaborate with healthcare officials during treatment and understand the importance of maintaining good health as they endeavor for prosperity in sports. This study will discuss the eating problems in male athletes.
Keywords: eating disorders, male athletes, causes, treatment
Disordered eating may occur during childhood, but in most cases, they are witnessed during teenage and early adulthood. The issues if left unaddressed can lead to serious health complications and even death. Male athletes are pushed into disordered eating as they strive for perfection and optimum performance in the assumption that controlling their eating habits will help them achieve maximum potential.
Some of the factors that contribute to eating problems in men are intensive practice, principled eating habits, body size and image alertness, social comments and mocking. The types of sports clothing in athletics are another contributing factor in raised body shape consciousness due to their nature of exposing the participant’s complexion. As the sports gear exposes the players to teammates and other members of the society, they comment on their outlook forcing them to devise ways to achieve social expectations.
Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, and Binge eating may be induced by loved ones like parents or coaches who may advise one to increase or decrease weight to excel in sports. These comments, recommendations and steps were undertaken to achieve the desired posture leads to body dissatisfaction catalyzing disorderly eating manners. For example, an upcoming athlete advised by experts to reduce weight to maximize performance may trigger his parents to reduce his diet. In the process of lowering his diet, the teenager may also result in excessive secret eating. Loved ones should take caution when advising or commenting regarding the body posture of their sportsmen, and it is important to offer healthy options necessary to gain aspired shape and image.
The media is another significant contributor to disordered eating in athlete men due to its social influence. Due to the influence, media houses wield many aspire to gain the shape and image portrayed on the media as the most desirable of the athlete. As athletes strive to acquire the shape and form the most successful and favorite athlete celebrities, they result in irregular eating habits detrimental to their health status. Comparing and imitating of air-brushed and athlete models has led many male athletes into despair, frustration and uneven diet.
Anxiety, depression and other psychological problems are factors which increase the vulnerability of male athletes to disorderly eating. Stressors like winning competitions, losing chances of event participation and social perceptions like so and so are not good enough are bitter pills to swallow which make athletes devise all types of methods to meet social satisfaction. Athlete support facilities are required to be put in place to assist them to take the right decisions. Development of interpersonal skills for communication, emotional counseling, and openness to friends and teammates is essential to avoid advancement of the problem in silence. The aspect of suffering in silence is rampant in men than women because most of them don’t like sharing their emotional world.