Elite Female Gymnasts and Eating Disorders

By: Danielle MacMillan, Melissa White, & Sarah Isherwood

OverviewIntroduction to the sport of

gymnasticProblemPressures

◦Coaches◦Judges◦Family◦Role Models

Personality traits of gymnastsSolutions

GymnasticsAesthetic sportRequires a small

figure to do the performance at an elite level

Very time consuming sport

Requires a lot of support from family

ProblemThere are many pressures

associated with female gymnasts in achieving the ideal body type in order to successfully compete at an elite level.

These pressures can often lead the athlete towards an eating disorder which is very detrimental to their health.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHZJjSrJ3X0

“Female gymnasts adhere to the demands of image in both sport and society. With pink ribbons in their hair, make-up plastered faces, and petite frames, the desired little princess look is achieved. The girls have to always perform, act, and look a certain way. Sadly, what once were women athletes are now pretty little girls doing flips and spins” (Millar, 2002).

Wasn’t always a problemLarissa Latynina

Nadia Commaneci

PressuresCoaches JudgesFamilyRole models

Pressures from CoachesCoaches are a very important part of a

gymnasts life.Coaches can worsen their chances of life long

problems.◦ Ex: Coach Karolyi

Pressures from Judges Judges are the people that the gymnast must

impress the most.The younger these gymnasts look the more apt

they are to sway the judges in favour of them.Christy Henrich

Pressures from FamilyParents can get

very caught up in their child's talent that they often forget about the true importance of the sport.

Pressures from Role ModelsTelevisionTeammates

Personality Traits of Gymnasts

Suggested SolutionsHigher minimum age required to

participate.Better technology.Coaching education.Programs to promote healthy

lifestyle.

Questions?

References Arsenault, H. (2009). Disordered Eating and Obsessive Exercise:

The Dangerous Cycle. The Women’s Health Activist, 34(1), 8-9.

Benardot, D. (2006). Advanced Sports Nutrition. U.S.A.: Human Kinetics.

(Karin) de Bruin, A.P., Bakker, F. C., & Oudejans, R. R. D. (2009). Achievement goal theory and disordered eating:

Relationships of disordered eating with goal orientations and motivational climate in female gymnasts and dancers. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 10(1), 72-79. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2008.07.002

Krane, V., Waldron, J., Michalenok, J., &Stiles-Shipley, J. (2001). Body Image Concerns in Female Exercisers and Athletes: A Feminist Cultural Studies Perspective. Women in Sport & Physical Activity Journal. Retrieved from http://coachrey.com/volleyball-blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Body-Image-Concerns-in-Female-Exercisers-and-Athletes.pdf

(K. Thompson, personal communication, March 11, 2011). Lin, C. (News anchor). (2001). Whatever It Takes: Pursuing the

Perfect 10 [CNN]. Atlanta: Time Warner Inc. Millar, S. (2002). Thinness to success: eating disorders in elite

female gymnasts. Canadian Woman Studies, 21(3), 122.