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The Impact of Nancy Kerrigan’s Eating Disorder Revelation
Two-time Olympic figure skating medalist and Dancing With The Stars contestant, Nancy Kerrigan, has brought the issue of eating disorders among athletes to the spotlight after her recent interview with People Magazine.
Kerrigan, who is also the executive producer of the upcoming documentary, “Why Don’t you Lose 5 Pounds,” continues to highlight the issue that countless athletes face while sharing the message that eating disorder recovery is possible.
The Issue of Eating Disorders Among Athletes
Competitive athletes often engage in stringent eating behaviors as part of their overall training regimen. In addition to intensive workout sessions, athletes commonly work with a trainer to ensure that their eating habits support their training and overall progression in their sport.
Certain sports, like dancing, gymnastics, figure skating, and others that emphasize body size/shape, may increase an athlete’s susceptibility to developing an eating disorder.
The National Eating Disorder Association has identified three specific risk factors that are thought to contribute specifically to a female athlete’s vulnerability to developing an eating disorder, including performance anxiety, negative self-appraisal, and social influences emphasizing thinness [1].
When it comes to elite athletes, like Olympians, research has found that the prevalence of eating disorders is higher compared to the general population, with almost 15 percent of athletes having a clinical or subclinical eating disorder compared to about 5 percent in the general population [2].
Because elite athletes do constitute a unique population, many aspects of training, like extreme dieting, restriction of food intake, supplement use, etc., are often justified or overlooked. Many elite athletes with eating disorder behaviors continue to compete competitively and may struggle with related symptoms for years before help is sought for problematic issues, like osteoporosis.
Kerrigan spoke of her eating disorder and highlighted, “I would avoid food because it was something I could do. I felt like I could control that and nothing else [3].” Many elite athletes face several risk factors that increase susceptibility to having an eating disorder, including biological components, environmental stressors, and more.
Spreading a Message of Hope and Healing
In sharing her story, Kerrigan has highlighted the prevalence of eating disorders in athletes and spread a message of hope for recovery.
Kerrigan, who credits her husband and children for inspiring her own recovery from anorexia, hopes that her new documentary can help educate athletes and others about the risks of eating disorders within this population and share resources for help and treatment.
This film, along with other collaborative efforts among coaches, athletic trainers, physicians, parents, and athletes, can be monumental in recognizing, preventing, and treating eating disorders in athletes.
About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Director of Content and Social Media for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.
As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.
References:
[1]: National Eating Disorder Association, “Athletes and Eating Disorders”, https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/athletes-and-eating-disorders Accessed 18 April 2018[2]: Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen, PhD, et al. Prevalence of Eating Disorders in Elite Athletes Is Higher Than in The General Population. Clin J Sport Med Vol 14, Number 1, 2004.
[3]: People Celebrity, “Nancy Kerrigan Developed Eating Disorder to Cope With Stress of 1994 Attack: ‘I was Wasting Away’”, http://people.com/celebrity/nancy-kerrigan-anorexia-stress-1994-attack-exclusive/ Accessed 18 April 2018
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Published on April 20, 2017.
Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on April 20, 2017.
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
