Question

Some sports such as figure skating, diving, dance, horse racing and boxing are more likely to place female athletes at risk for eating disturbance or disorder development. Discuss why you think these types of sports are more likely to place athletes at risk?

Answer 1

Athletic women see their body weight in different perspective on and out off the field especially if weight is an advantage (smaller body weight gives more flexbility and increases success rate in figure skating, diving, dance, horce racing etc) in the game.

Female athletes are more proactive about their bodily shape and constantly push their bodies against the normal limits with different diet culture which if not properly designed may not cater to the body demands and disrupts the balance of the body metabolic needs.

Lack of nutrition due to the emphasis on body weight control which may attributed due to disordered eating or exhaustive training regimens. Amenorrhea and osteoporosis may also develop in the female atheletes due to disruption of the biological rhythm This inturn would lead to extreme dieting or binge eating either of which are again deterimental and further worsen the condition.

Thus, Female athletes who give importance for thinner shape (often prone to condition called anorexia athletica) are at more risk for eating disturbances or disorder developments.

Solution: De-emphasizing weight as one of the factor for success or strengths of the game may shift the proactiveness about the body shape and weight. Elimination of group weight policy is helpful and every athlete should be treated with custom tailored needs for the nutritional requirements that suits them. The subcultural aspects are to be avoided and assistance should be provided from the governmental organizations or institutions for large scale implementations and resources to tackle the situation.