"It
is equally important that coaches are well educated on the
subject, too. They need to watch what they say," she explains.
Track coaches, for example, may suggest that their members
slim down to be faster; these athletes could wind up losing
too much weight, says Chopak, drastically affecting their
overall physical performance. Not to mention the fact that
they may eventually suffer internal problems.
That's
why early intervention is key, says Bonnie Harken, president
of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals
(IAEDP), which provides education and training to healthcare
professionals and others who deal with eating disorders. "Eating
disorders are not fads... they are killers," she explains.
"People die.
"Eating
disorders are no joke. So, as the saying goes: "Reach one,
teach one." And, with the involvement of the athlete, the
university, family, and organizations, the problem can be
contained, and eventually eradicated.
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