RJA #15

Reflection

This English 1020 class was my first online course I have taken since my start of college, three years ago. There have been many things learned from my experience. My first reaction was that I did not really like online classes to begin with. They seemed to be more work than my attended classes, however, once I got into the groove of self-discipline and a regular schedule, I found this to be one of my favorite classes of the semester. I think self-discipline is definitely the key to a class like this. If you can not force yourself to stay on target by your own means, then you may easily fall behind! My topic, competitive athletes and eating disorders, was also very informational and eye-opening. I have, like most people, known the basics of eating disorders. On the other hand, I have never specifically looked at the relation between eating disorders regarding athletes alone. With this research paper I started my topic with only an assumption, but was surprised to find there was a solid connection to the problem of eating disorders in athletes. Performing the research for this paper was also a bit of a challenge. I have never previously had to provide 12 sources for a single paper. However, I thought the outcome of this was beneficial. By having to have so many sources I felt like I truly researched my paper and found credible, unique information. The outside research I performed was also a first for me. This was a learning experience because I had to approach people I have never met and collect data. I thought the writing process was pretty straight forward. In general, I have always enjoyed writing and so have never found it too difficult. I think the most beneficial skill I have gained in this class for my future is the research skills. As an aspiring dietitian, I may find myself in research later in life. Having had to perform my own outside research will definitely be a skill I can carry. Even the book/internet research performed will help me because I know how to navigate both a library and internet to find good, reliable information. Overall, I thought this was an enjoyable class. There was a lot of work, but by staying on top of it, it was very manageable. Have a good summer!

RJA #14b

References

Hellmich, Nanci. "Athletes' Hunger to Win Fuels Eating Disorders."USA Today. USA Today, 5 Feb. 2006. Web.12 April 2010.

Holliman, Susan. Eating Disorders and Athletes: A Handbook for Coaches. Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company,1991. Print.

Jerz, G. Dennis. (2002). "Short Stories: 10 Tips for Creative Writers." Weblog (Teaching, Resources, About). Web. 28 April, 2010.

Michel, Deborah and Willard, Susan. When Dieting Becomes Dangerous. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003. Print.

Waltz, Vicky. "Athletes and Eating Disorders." BU Today. 17 December 2009. Web. 15 February 2010.

RJA #14a

Application Project Progress Report

For my application project I am going to write a short story about an athlete in the developmental stages of an eating disorder. I want the story to be primarily from the internal perspective of a competitive athlete. However, I plan on having key supporting characters as well. To explain, I will have a coach, teammates, and possibly family members be included in the story because of their often impacting role in the players life. I am using accounts of real athletes who have struggled with the disease for reference. I hope this will help to make a moving, yet realistic story.

Thus far I have accomplished a few things. I have fully developed and settled on the idea of creating a short story for this project. I also have outlined the general plot of my story. To help with research, I have been trying to find more first-hand accounts of athletes who have struggled with either bulimia or anorexia. There are a few stories I have found mostly on the internet through articles that will serve as a good reference for my story.

Honestly, I still have a lot to do for this project. Besides outlining, I have to still write the entire 1200 word story. I also need to write the accompanied essay that will follow the story. I have not thought much about the 300 word essay that will follow, so I still need to figure that section out. After writing the entire project, I need to edit and proofread the paper a few times over. Last, I need to formally write up my works cited page for the resources I use.

RJA #13c

Application Project Example

URL: http://www.americanliterature.com/Hawthorne/SS/YoungGoodmanBrown.html

As an example for a short story, I looked at Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Although this story is unrelated to my topic, I can take a few things from it in regards to my own short story I will write. Most importantly, I learned a few things regarding format and organization. One thing I like about the format of this story is it provides mystery and build-up to the most important parts, or climax. I believe the subject of my own short story has a bit of mystery and build-up through all the factors, situations, etc. that may lead an athlete into a possible eating disorder. In turn, I can look at how this famous author does it and take tips to provide a compelling, and somewhat suspenseful tale that will impact its readers. Regarding organization, there is a clear: beginning, middle, and end. Although this may seem simple, it is key because without a concise organization readers will be left hanging, unsatisfied, and/or confused. I feel the quotes coming from the narrator and main characters throughout help suck the reader into the experiences. Keeping this in mind I plan to most definitely personalize the story with quotations and character narrations. I think this will help readers connect to the characters as well as be affected by what they read. Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story, Young Goodman Brown, is an excellent example of how it should be done.

RJA #13b

Application Project Plan

For the application project I plan on writing a short story. I intend to write from an internal perspective of a competitive athlete and their struggles to succeed at their multiple daily responsibilities. For better accuracy, I am going to use the first hand accounts I have found during research of athlete's struggles with eating disorders to depict a similar situation of events related to my paper. From their accounts I can create a similar story to show both the experiences and research I have thus far found. I want to especially focus on the lead-up to the disorder itself. I think this is a more important focus especially because my paper more closely looks at the reasons why athletes are more susceptible. I may also try to include some influences as well, such as, coaches, family, and teammates.

RJA #13a

Word Cloud

URL: http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/1952940/Athletes_at_Risk%3A_Competitive_Sports_and_Eating_Disorders

RJA #12b

Field Research Report

I performed a survey of 25 random people. All subjects were of various student ages on the Metropolitan campus. For each person I asked them these questions:

-Within your lifetime, have you known someone who has struggled with an eating disorder?

RESULTS:
11 out of 25 answered yes. 44% had known someone at one point with an eating disorder.

-Of those who answered yes to question 1, I then asked: was that person an athlete?

RESULTS:
2 out of 11 answered yes. 18.18% were athletes.

-Do you think competitive athletes are at greater risk for an eating disorder than the every-day individual?

RESULTS:
7 out of 25 answered yes. 28% believe athletes are at greater risk.

RJA #12a

Annotated Bibliography Part III

-"Eating Disorders in Athletes." FAQs.org. World of Sports Science. Web. 16 April 2010.

To begin with, there is no listed author for this website, which leaves me a little hestitant of the quality of information. FAQs.org seems to be a general knowledge page to give a basic summary or run-down on specific topics. Here, the site gave a pretty good idea of what an eating disorder is, and, more importantly, reasons why athletes are more susceptible to them. I liked that it talked about the personality of athletes and how that can be a contributing factor to their vulnerability to the illness. Another good part is that it addresses sports, such as gymnastics and running, who specifically have a higher incidence of eating disorders and why. The audience appears to be for anyone interested in the topic, with the information remaining objective throughout. I thought this source was of some use to me. It gave me good evidence and quotes for some of the key arguments within my paper.

-"Eating Disorder Statistics." South Carolina Department of Mental Health. Web. 16 April 2010.

Again this site did not have an immediate author. However, the information is provided by the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, which supports its' credibility. The page bullets specific data and results regarding eating disorders. The main headings it includes statistics for are the prevalence of eating disorders, treatment, age most affected, racial and ethnic groups affected, and famous individuals who have struggled with either bulimia or anorexia. The audience is for anyone interested, and the site remains very objective. I like that the site bulleted each of their statistics. This made for easy and accessible data. I believe this site was of use to me, especially in trying to find the prevalence of the illness. I got some good information from here.

-"Eating Disorders." The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. 6th ed. Columbia University Press, 2007. Infoplease.com Web. 22 February 2010.

The information provided within this article has immediate credentialing because it is from the Columbia Encyclopedia. This source served as my reference article. As a whole, "Eating Disorders" summarized the basic information about the illnesses. The article talks about the definitions for the most common disorders, anorexia and bulimia, and who is most affected. It also talks about what some researchers believe regarding whether the disorders are caused by imbalances within the brain or from societal pressures. The audience is very broad, providing knowledge to anyone looking for it. As an encyclopedia article, the information is objective. I did not get much use out of this source. However, for basic knowledge it was a good place to start.

-Johnson, Craig, Powers, Pauline, and Dick, Randy. "Athletes and Eating Disorders: The National Collegiate Athletic Association Study." International Journal of Eating Disorders Vol. 26, Issue 2 (1999): 179-188. Web. 15 April 2010.

This source was an article from the International Journal of Eating Disorders. There are three authors, all of whom have a list of credentials. Immediately this article appears very reliable given both the author's credibility, as well as, the source it is published within. "Athletes and Eating Disorders" is summarizing the method, results, and discussion of a study they performed with the National Collegiate Athletic Association. This was an excellent, well researched source that provided statistics to an in-depth study looking directly at athletes and eating disorders. The material is definitely reliable and the audience is for any researcher interested in the study. They presented their objectives and findings objectively. This source was of great use to me and very interesting!

-Quinn, Elizabeth. "Eating Disorders in Athletes." About.com Guide, 13 February 2008. Web. 13 April 2010.

At first glance, I could not find any credentialing for the author, Elizabeth Quinn. However, after closer look I found a link that provided more information on the author. Quinn is a sport's psychologist and fitness consultant, which gives validity to her article. This article provides an overall look at athletes and their connection to eating disorders. She further discusses the "female athlete triad" which is of prominent importance to the topic. Finally, there is a section about warning signs and getting help. The information provided seems to be both objective and reliable. I found a few good pieces of evidence from this website.

-Thompson, Colleen. "Athletes." Mirror-mirror.org, 28 August 2009. Web. 8 February 2010.

Although the author does not provide any credentialing of her own here, she does provide a list of references at the end of the page. This shows the article was probably researched to provide credible information. This source was a little unique in that it provided examples of athletes who have personally struggled with eating disorders. The stories gave a more personal touch to the article, however, it in turn may not be as objective as the others. Various statistics were also provided throughout, which provided me with some good quotations throughout my paper. I found this source useful.

-Waltz, Vicky. "Athletes and Eating Disorders." BU Today. 17 December 2009. Web. 15 February 2010.

This article I found from BU Today was one of the best I found. It began with the story of one of the universities best athletes, David Proctor, and his struggle with anorexia. The article then follows with discussions of why athletes may succumb more easily to the illness than average individuals. Throughout Waltz provides a few quotes from qualified individuals, which aids in providing credibility to her article. I found some great information in this article and thought it was an interesting read.

RJA #11

Annotated Bibliography Part II

-Caffrey, Lee. "What is the Prevalence of Eating Disorders Among Female Athletes?" About.com. Vanderbilt University, 27 April 1997. Web. 12 April 2010.

This paper is from the Department of Psychology within Vanderbilt University. Taking a more specific look at the female athlete, this source details what the female athlete triad is, as well as, reasoning and data to why women athletes are at greater risk for eating disorders. There is also sections for the comparison of athletes to the general population, and signs, tips, etc. for coaches. While the author himself lists no personal credentials, there is a thorough list of references following the conclusion. All evidence provided is followed with the appropriate citation to give some credibility to his statements. Throughout there are some good pieces of information, but, as a whole, this source is low on my list. This is mainly due to my issues with the possible credibility of the author. I am not sure whether the author is a professor or student, but without knowing more information I am skeptical to use the research. Also, while there are some good pieces of research in this, it is all information I have found in other, more reliable sources. The audience seems to be for anyone interested and the reading level is easy. Overall, I do not feel this resource will be of much use to me.

-"Eating Disorders: Are Coaches to Blame?" Int. J Sports Med 26 (2005): 693-700. Web. 12 April 2010.

The article, "Eating Disorders: Are Coaches to Blame?," does not list an immediate author, but does reference the journal from which it was found. Covering research done in Spain, the article shows new findings concerning athletes and their link to eating disorders. Immediately this article provides good data from performed research. Because this article comes from a medical journal, I believe the information to be reliable. I have found some great evidence here and think the source will be of some use to my paper.

-Hellmich, Nanci. "Athletes' Hunger to Win Fuels Eating Disorders." USA Today. USA Today, 5 Feb. 2006. Web. 12 April 2010.

This source is an article in USA Today beginning with the story of a particular athlete, Kimiko Soldati. While it may not be as objective as my other sources, it provides good statistical information, as well as, reliable references. The article recaps the story of gymnast Soldati before jumping into statistical data, specific high risk sports, and a closer look at the dangerous eating practices of some athletes. Besides the athlete herself, medical professionals are referenced and quoted giving credentials to the information provided. The intended audience appears to be anyone interested or concerned with the issue. This source will provide a different aspect of research to my data. It gives a personal story along with the numbers and catches a reader's attention. I believe this article will be of much use to me.

-Holliman, Susan. Eating Disorders and Athletes: A Handbook for Coaches. Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1991. Print.

Immediately, within the preface, I find the purpose of the book stated for those, "who want to better understand the issue of eating disorders and athletes" (v). The audience is clearly for those dealing with or concerned about athletes. This book covers everything from why athletes are susceptible to eating disorders, to the basic information of the eating disorder itself, to the strategies for prevention and intervention. Remaining objective throughout, the book is broken into chapters, then appendixes for quick survey or research results. The information presented is clearly supported with a thorough list of references as well as statistical data I have not found in previous print resources. I really like the way this book is organized. It makes for an easy access look at either various pieces of information or a more specific search. Thus far, this source has been the most helpful to me. I love that this book also provides data for surveys and research that has been performed. The information within this handbook will provide my paper with some great evidence.

-Michel, Deborah and Willard, Susan. When Dieting Becomes Dangerous. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003. Print.

This book, When Dieting Becomes Dangerous, is an overall look at understanding and treating eating disorders, such as, anorexia and bulimia. Both contributing authors have credibility to their name with Michel holding a Ph.D. and Willard having an L.C.S.W. (licensed clinical social worker). Within the preface, it states the author's clinical experiences have alerted them to the need to help those affected by eating disorders and, in turn, the book is a compilation of their knowledge on the subject. This clearly states the purpose of their venture including the intended audience for those seeking knowledge concerning eating disorders. I believe the book is a reliable source for information given the researched background to the knowledge they provide. Also, the credentials of the authors themselves is a good sign. Overall, the source has proven somewhat useful to me. Of the entire book, there is a small section more closely related to my paper on athletes and eating disorders. Otherwise, eating disorders themselves are looked at in their multiple realms on a less specific scale.

RJA #10c

Ideas for Application Project:

-Short story: of athlete with an eating disorder.

-Scene for a play: dialogue between athlete and coach.

-Personal letter to family: athlete dealing with the pressures of the sport.

-News article: on athletes and eating disorders.

RJA #10b

Progress Report for Argumentative Paper

Accomplished:

-Have read and marked about half of my sources.

-Have done a basic outline.

-Have found evidence/quotes to shape my argument.

Need to Do:

-Refine my outline and make it longer: by 4/7

-Finish going through my remaining sources: by 4/10

-Do an interview: by 4/12

-Write a rough draft of paper: by 4/15 (actually due 4/16)

-Write a bibliography: by 4/16

RJA #10a

Annotated Bibliography, Part 1

-Diamant, Louis. Psychology of Sports, Exercise, and Fitness. New York: Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, 1991. Print.

Composed from the information and knowledge of various resources, the book, Psychology of Sports, Exercise, and Fitness, was well researched. The editor, Louis Diamant, is a professor in the Department of Psychology for the University of North Carolina. Her credentials give support to her discussions regarding psychology and sports. Immediately, within the first few pages, a list of contributers is given. Again this shows the credibility of both the source and the research found within its' pages. Of the books I have looked at thus far, I have found this one to be of much use. Not only does it discuss the links between psychology, sports, and eating disorders, but it also provides data from performed research on animals, through surveys, and more. The information is very reliable, providing appropriate citation of data-based research when needed. Also, the list of contributors at the beginning provides both the names and scholastic credentials to back up the validity of the source. I believe this book does a good job at staying objective with a goal to merely explore the topic of sports and psychology. The source has proved very helpful to me, giving me many good pieces of evidence for my argumentative paper. I would recommend this book for research.

-Ruud, Jaime S. Nutrition and the Female Athlete. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1996. Print.

Jaime S. Ruud, author of Nutrition and the Female Athlete is a Nutrition Consultant out of Lincoln, Nebraska. This book is a part of a series of sources on nutrition in exercise and sports. Within the series preface, it states that these books are to provide a stage to examine the scholarly aspects of the topic at hand. It also mentions that contributors are welcome from any bona fide area of nutrition or athletics. This statement makes me a little skeptical as to the reliability of the information. As an aspiring dietitian, I have learned that any single person can call themselves a Nutritionist without much or any credentials. Because the author lists herself as a Nutrition Consultant, I am not sure of the validity of the research provided in this source. Also, there is no list of references or resources to further support her information. I have found a few useful pieces of information within this source. However, I do not believe it compares as well to the other sources I have. On a positive note, the source remains objective in tone and presentation throughout. The author presents information without any sense of bias or agenda. This book is not of the most helpful I have found, but I can still use some quotes from it.

-Costin, Carolyn. 100 Questions and Answers About Eating Disorders. Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2007. Print.

Author, Carolyn Costin, is a licensed Marraige and Family Therapist who has been treating eating disorders since 1977. She also tells readers of her own personal struggle with anorexia nervosa in her younger years. Since, she has founded the Eating Disorder Center of California. All of Costin's accomplishments and experiences give validity to her information as an author on the subject. I, in turn, believe the source to be reliable. This book is useful in the overall knowledge, background, types, etc. of eating disorders. While remaining mostly objective when providing facts regarding the topic, it is obvious of her bias given her own personal struggle with the issue. However, I do not believe this effects the quality of the book. The goal of 100 Questions and Answers About Eating Disorders is to be a source of information for those needing to know more about the various types of eating disorders. This book is helpful to me in setting a base to my paper. I will be able to use it for quotes and the full understanding of what an eating disorder really is.

RJA #9c

Presentation Plan

I. Introduction

A. Define eating disorder

1. Reasons why athletes are at a higher risk

B. Summarize key factors

C. Thesis: Athletes who actively participate in a competitive sport have an increased chance of suffering from an eating disorder because of the compiled stress placed on their lives from sport practices, demands, and the pressure to win.

II. Demands Placed on an Athlete

A. Practices

B. Competitions

C. Pressure/desire to be the best and win

D. Perfectionism

E. How all tie together to apply a lot of stress-can lead to eating disorder in attempts for control

III. Image/Weight based sports-higher risks for eating disorder

A. Wrestling

B. Running

C. Gymnastics

D. Figure Skating

E. Dancing

IV. Personality traits common with those eating disorders

A. Perfectionism

B. Obsessive

C. Desire to Please

D. Extreme Discipline

1. Connection to traits shared by some athletes and eating disorders-increased risk

V. Counterarguments

A. Refutations

VI. Summary/Conclusion

*Have Quotes and Images/Stories etc. for each main heading that will be a part of presentation! This is the general outline.

RJA #9b

Argument

Research Question:

Do athletes who actively participate in competitive sports have a higher risk of suffering from an eating disorder?

Claim/Thesis:

Athletes who actively participate in a competitive sport have an increased chance of suffering from an eating disorder because of the compiled stress placed on their lives from sport practices, demands, and the pressure to win.

Reasons:

1. The demands of practices and training on top of other life responsibilities can be stressful.

Evidence: "The struggle to manage practices, competitions, and...(other) demands can be overwhelming; some athletes turn to unhealthy tactics to regain...control." -Pomodoro: www.bu.edu/today/2009/12/16/athletes-and-eating-disorders

2. The personality traits that make for an excellent athlete; the need to please, perfectionism, self-discipline, etc., can be mental traits connected to eating disorders.

3. Weight and image standards in sports, such as, gymnastics, dancing, wrestling, and figure skating, can apply pressures to maintain or achieve a weight unhealthy for the athlete, thus, leading to drastic measures involving an eating disorder.

4. Competitive athletes in general are younger and more impressionable. Eating disorders are highest among teenagers in ages from 14-18. The correlation between young competitive athletes and the highest age bracket for eating disorders show the vulnerability of these athletes at that time. The pressures placed on them from coaches, family, and society may be enough to bring them to this.

Objections

1. Eating disorders are most often linked with psychological problems, so the athlete struggling would have had the eating disorder regardless of their participation in the sport or not.
2. Within American society, females, in general, statistically have higher rates of struggling with eating disorders than men, so you can not blame the sports for the female athlete's disorder.
3. Many athletes within these competitive sports do not have eating disorders, so is the cause really the sport.

RJA #9a

Thesis

Research Question:

Do athletes who actively participate in competitive sports have a higher risk of suffering from an eating disorder?

Precise Claim:

Athletes who are involved in competitive sports, such as, wrestling, gymnastics, figure skating, etc., are at a higher risk for an eating disorder.

Reasons/Blueprint:

• Competitive sports apply added stress into the athlete's daily lives (more than an average non-athlete) through the pressures to win.
• Characteristics that make for a good athlete can also be personality traits of an eating disorder.

Complete Thesis Statement:

Athletes who actively participate in a competitive sport have an increased chance of suffering from an eating disorder because of the compiled stress placed on their lives from sport practices, demands, and the pressure to win.

RJA #8b

Evaluations:

Michael Hughes

http://mgheng2010.blogspot.com/2010/03/rja-7a-evaluation-of-sources.html

Alishia

http://astults.blogspot.com/2010/03/rja-7a-evaluation-of-sources.html

RJA #8a

Passage:

Proctor’s shocking story is not uncommon. An estimated one-third of female college athletes suffer from clinical eating disorders, says Paula Quatromoni, a Sargent College assistant professor of nutrition. The problem occurs less frequently among male athletes, but remains a scourge.“The demands of athletic training and peak performances, particularly in Division I collegiate sports, place athletes at an increased risk,” Quatromoni says. “The characteristics that make them exceptional athletes — a desire for perfection, an instinctual need to please — go hand-in-hand with eating disorders.”Anorexia and bulimia are illnesses that often coexist with emotional problems such as anxiety and depression, says sports psychologist Joanne Pomodoro (SSW’99). The struggle to manage practices, competitions, and academic demands can be overwhelming; some athletes turn to unhealthy tactics to regain a semblance of control. “Eating disorders are maladaptive coping mechanisms,” she explains. “Counting calories, restricting food intake, and monitoring the numbers on the scale are very tangible things.”

LINK: http://www.bu.edu/today/2009/12/16/athletes-and-eating-disorders

Quotation:

Eating disorders, such as, anorexia nervosa and bulimia are not unheard of in the United States. Often linked with emotional struggles, eating disorders are a rising concern among competitive athletes nation-wide. The athlete, a commonly idealized figure of strength, discipline, and endurance, can have a darker side in which they struggle to maintain the image of perfection we apply. Whether it be from coach, family, or society, the factors that play into making a great athlete can also lead to dangerous methods in weight loss. According to Quatromoni, an assistant professor of nutrition, "an estimated one-third of female college athletes...(struggle with) eating disorders,...'(and their) desire for perfection, an institutional need to please - go hand-in-hand with eating disorders.'" The heightened pressures placed on the athlete between the need to win and many other life factors develop into a high-risk atmosphere for the psychological desires to control weight and perfection through unhealthy means of disordered eating.

Paraphrase:

The story of Proctor is not unheard of. According to Paula Quatromoni, an assistant professor in nutrition at Sargent College, about a third of college female athletes struggle with an eating disorder. While less common in male athletes, it is still a problem. Highly competitive sports, especially with Division I schools, have many demands on their athletes placing an increased risk for these disorders. Quatromoni insists that the athlete's drive for perfection, one of the attributes making for an excellent competitor, tie in with the psychology of eating disorders. Sports psychologist, Joanne Pomodoro, says common disorders, such as, anorexia and bulimia are often linked with psychological disorders, such as, depression and anxiety. The battle in managing the many aspects of the athlete's life can be a lot to handle, leaving many in attempts to regain control through unhealthy means. These disorders are tactics for handling stress, and strategies, such as, counting calories and/or restricting, are physical ways to get some control.

Summary:

Eating disorders are not uncommon in athletes. Especially in highly competitive schools, the pressures placed on athletes between practices, training, school, and other life demands are a lot to handle. This easily places them at a higher risk for falling prey to eating disorders, such as, anorexia and bulimia. While these disorders often go hand-in-hand with psychological problems of depression or anxiety, the desire to win and be the best can be very overwhelming. In turn, some athletes may turn to eating disorders to regain a sense of control.

Internet Research Project

http://zakta.com/zakta/view_1_1130_3049_Eating_disorders_and_Sports

RJA #7b

Field Research Suggestion

• Kelly Williams: http://kwill12.blogspot.com/2010/03/rja-6c-field-research-options.html

• Ryan Smith: http://ryansmith77.blogspot.com/2010/03/rja6c-field-research-options.html

RJA #7a

Evaluation of Sources

Book

Title: Nutrition and the Female Athlete
Author: Ruud, Jaime S.
Publisher: CRC Press, Inc.
Place of Publication: Boca Raton
Copyright: 1996

Upon evaluating, Nutrition and the Female Athlete, I believe the book to be a credible, useful source. The author states within the preface that she has written for a broad audience ranging from the athletes themselves, to coaches, to medical professionals, such as, dietitians and physicians. I find that I too am in the intended audience because I am reading in search of nutritional information, both good and bad, concerning the athlete. While I feel the reading is understandable and to the point, I do not feel it is overly simply. Her writing is very objective and factual in how the information is presented. I was happy to find that at the start of each chapter Ruud has provided a brief outline of the contents making for a clear read. The information is accessible as well as backed up by statistical information. I also believe in the author's validity given her credentials as M.S. and R.D. Each chapter is followed by an extensive list of references showing the research was done. My only possible dilemma is that the book is slightly out-dated being published in 1996. I will definitely cross reference data and information to be sure it still holds true. Overall, I think this book will provide some very good, factual information for my research.

Reference Article

Title: Eating Disorders
Author: The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia
Title of Reference Work: Infoplease
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Copyright: 2007

This reference article seems to be for a very broad audience. It comes from an encyclopedia, thus seems to be credible in the information it provides. The site is luckily not like Wikipedia where anyone can post. While the article seems to be for anyone and everyone, the style and level of information is pretty limited. There is about two paragraphs written giving the overall run-down of an eating disorder. The article does not at all reference eating disorders in relation to sports. However, I do believe the content to be factual and not opinionated. This article is good for giving me a general picture of eating disorders, the definition, signs, etc., but probably not too useful in thorough research.

Periodical Article

Author: American Academy of Family Physicians
Title: Sports and Women Athletes: The Female Athlete Triad
Title of Periodical: American Family Physician
Volume and Issue: V. 69, Issue 7
Date: 4/1/2004
Pg. 1729

This article comes from the American Academy of Family Physicians, so I trust the credibility. Again the audience seems to be relatively broad, however, here it seems mostly directed to female athletes or friends/family of those who may be affected. Given the medical nature of the journal, the article seems helped based and, thus, may be a bit biased. I do believe the information to be factual and reliable. Again this article seems to only skim the surface of all the information out there. It is pretty general and not very in-depth. They give the basic run-down of signs, symptoms, treatments, etc. I am not confident this article will get me very far in my research. The information is only a few years old, so I do not believe it is out of date. This article provides another good touch on what I am researching, but does not delve as far as I would like.

Website

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/eatingdisorders1/a/aa110600a.htm

Author: Elizabeth Quinn
Title: Eating Disorders in Athletes
Last updated: February 13, 2008

This website seemed to provide some good insight on the link between sports and eating disorders. Immediately, I could see it says it is reviewed by the Medical Review Board. While I do not know the credentials of the author herself, I feel confident in the information provided given it is reviewed by professionals. The site touches on some of the psychological triggers related with competitive sports and the rise of eating disorders which I find very helpful. I think the writing is addressed to everyone looking for information. The site is easy to read and relevant, however, I again feel as though the surface is only being scratched. Nearing the end there are links to related words and articles that may be of use to me. This site is perfect for getting my, "feet wet" on the subject. It provides a clear overview of sports and their relation to eating disorders and will help lead me to more in-depth research.

RJA #6c

Field Research Options

1. Interview w/ Medical Professionals: I would specifically like to interview a Dietitian. I believe they could provide really good insight on how an athlete should be properly eating to keep up with the physical demands of their sport. This would then, in turn, be good to relate to how those athletes with eating disorders are eating. The dietitian I interview will have an RD (registered dietitian) for credentials, and if they specialize in sports nutrition then, even better!
2. Survey: I can use one of the online tools, such as, Polldaddy, Survey Monkey, etc., to create an online survey. I would attempt to poll the number of athletes or past athletes who have or are struggling with an eating disorder.
3. Interview w/ Athletes: I think this interview may be a little harder for me to do. I would like to try and interview a past or current athlete on their thoughts about whether competitive sports have a link to eating disorders. This one may be slightly harder to get because I am not sure where to go to interview an athlete and the subject matter may be a little, "touchy" for some people.

RJA #6b

Social Media and Multimedia

Social Media:

• Resource: Internet
• Keywords: eating disorders and sports
• Addict-o-matic
• Date: 3/8/2010
• didn't list how many hits
• 0/5 relevance-it did bring up my blog though, which I thought was amusing! :)

• Resource: Internet
• Keywords: sports and eating disorders
• IceRocket
• Date: 3/8/2010
• 1,182 hits
• 0.5/5 relevance

Multimedia:

• Resource: Internet
• Keywords: sports and eating disorders
• Blinkx
• Date: 3/8/2010
• 54 videos/hits
• 2/5-provided some videos worth watching

RJA #6a

Websites

Search Engines:

• Resource: Internet
• Keywords: eating disorders and competitive sports
• Ask search engine
• Date: 3/8/2010
• 1,720,000 hits
• 1/5 relevance: seen alot of these sites before

• Resource: Internet
• Keywords: sports and eating disorders
• BING search engine
• Date: 3/8/2010
• 5,680,000 hits
• 2/5 relevance

Meta Search Engines:

• Resource: Internet
• Keywords: sports and eating disorders
• Academic Index meta search engine
• Date: 3/8/2010
• 10 hits
• 0/5 relevance

Directories:

• Resource: Internet
• Keywords: sports and eating disorders
• Academic Info
• Date: 3/8/2010
• 3 hits
• 0/5 relevance

Invisible Web:

• Resource: Internet
• Keywords: sports and eating disorders
• Complete Planet
• Date: 3/8/2010
• 0 hits
• 0/5 relevance: did NOT like this site-every time I tried opening it, it would freeze up my whole computer.

• Resource: Internet
• Keywords: sports and eating disorders
• Deep Peep
• Date: 3/8/2010
• 5,680,000 hits
• 1/5 relevance-seen most of these sites already!

Other:

• Resource: Internet
• Keywords: sports and eating disorders
• Soovle
• Date: 3/8/2010
• 3,020,000 hits
• 1/5 relevance-all the same sites; much like Google.

RJA #5c

Reference Articles

• Author: The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia
• Title: Eating Disorders
• Title of Reference work: Infoplease
• Name of Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Copyright 2007

Resource searched: Infoplease.com
Keywords: eating disorders and sports
Search strategies: keywords
Date: 2/22/10
Number of hits: 120+
Relevance: 1/5

*I am having a hard time finding relevant reference articles. So far this is the only one I've found worth citing. Many are very broad or basic and do not tie into my topic too directly. If anyone has suggestions please help! Thank you.

RJA #5b

Periodical Articles

• Author: American Academy of Family Physicians
• Title: Sports and Women Athletes: The Female Athlete Triad
• Title of Periodical: American Family Physician
• Volume and Issue: V. 69 Issue 7
• Date: April 1, 2004
• pg. 1729

• Author: Erin Strout
• Title: What the Stopwatch Doesn't Tell
  
• Title of Periodical: The Chronicle of Higher Education
• Volume and Issue: V. 53 Issue 24
• Date: February 16, 2007
• pg. A44-6

• Author: Ronald S. Manley & Karina M. O'Brien & Sumerlee Samuals
• Title: Fitness Instructors Recognition of Eating Disorders and Attendant ethical/liability Issues
• Title of Periodical: Eating Disorders
• Volume and Issue: V. 16 Issue 2
• Date: March 2008
• pg. 103-116

Resource searched: Auraria Library
Keywords: eating disorders and sports
Search strategy: Worldcat operator
Date: 2/22/10
Number of Hits: 1,1016
Relevance: 3-4/5

*I am wanting to find more articles, but this is my starting off point! Hopefully I'll be adding more soon.

RJA #5a

Books

Books Found:

• Editor: Shane Murphy
• Title: The Sport Psych Handbook
• Place of Publication: Champaign, IL
• Name of Publisher: Human Kinetics Publisher, Inc.
• Copyright: 2005

Resource searched: Auraria Library
Keywords: eating disorders and competitive sports
Search strategy: used internet database/Skyline operator
Date: 2/22/10
Number of hits: 1
Relevance: 2/5

• Author: Carolyn Costin
• Title: 100 Questions and Answers about Eating Disorders
• Place of Publication: Sudbury, MA
• Publisher: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc.
• Copyright 2007

• Editor: Viqi Wagner
• Title: Eating Disorders
• Series: Opposing Viewpoints Series
• Place of Publication: Farmington Hills, MI
• Publisher: Greenhaven Press
• Copyright: 2007

• Authors: Deborah Michel & Susan Willard
• Title: When Dieting Becomes Dangerous
• Place of Publication: New Haven
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Copyright: 2003

Resource Searched: Auraria Library
Keywords: causes of eating disorders
Search strategies: online/Skyline operator
Date: 2/22/10
Number of Hits: 11
Relevance: 2-3/5

• Editors: Eugene Brown & Crystal Branta
  
• Title: Competitive Sports for Children and Youth: An Overview of Research and Issues
• Place of Publication: Champaign, IL
• Publisher: Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
  
• Copyright: 1988

• Author: Don Davies with Malcolm Armstrong
• Title: Psychological Factors in Competitive Sports
• Place of Publication: Philadelphia, PA
• Publisher: The Falmer Press
• Copyright: 1989

• Author: Jaime S. Ruud
• Title: Nutrition and the Female Athlete
• Name of Series: CRC Series
• Place of Publication: Boca Raton, FL
• Publisher: CRC Press, Inc.
• Copyright: 1996

Resource Searched: Auraria Library
Keywords: dangers of competitive sports
Search strategy: online/Skyline operator
Date: 2/22/10
Number of Hits: 12
Relevance: 2-4/5

• Editor: Louis Diamant
• Title: Psychology of Sports, Exercise, and Fitness: Social and Personal Issues
• Place of Publication: New York
• Publisher: Hemisphere Publishing Corporation
  
• Copyright: 1991

• Editor: Susan Holliman
• Title: Eating Disorders and Athletes: A Handbook for Coaches
• Place of Publication: Iowa
• Publisher: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
• Copyright: 1991

Resource: Auraria Library
Keywords: eating disorders and sports
Search Strategies: Worldcat operator
Date: 2/22/10
Number of Hits: 1,1016
Relevance: 4/5

RJA #4c

Research Question Comments:

J. Madison:

http://jmadison411.blogspot.com/2010/02/rja-3c-research-question.html

Aaron Repp:
http://aaronrepp.blogspot.com/2010/02/rja-3c-research-question.html

RJA #4b

Search Strings

Search Engine Math:

• athletes+eating disorders+sports
• athletes+current+statistics+eating disorders
• athletes+eating+competitive sports

Boolean Search:

• athletes AND eating disorders AND competitive sports
• athletes AND eating disorders AND today
• athletes AND anorexia OR bulimia
  

RJA #4a

Keywords

• Eating, consumption, intake, ingestion

• Disorder, chaos, disarray, confusion, unrest

• Eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, binging, bulimia, compulsive eating, purging

• Athlete, contestant, participant, competitor, player, team member

• Prominent, obvious, marked, noticeable, unmistakable, easily seen, outstanding, pronounced

• Today, now, nowadays, current, presently

• Competitive, aggressive, ambitious, competing, opposing, contesting

• Sports, action, athletics, exercise, games, recreation

Ladder of Generalization:
Eating--Eating disorder--Eating disorder among athletes--Eating disorder among competitive athletes

RJA #3c

Research Question

-Who is most affected: which sports have the highest number of athletes with disordered eating?

-What is to blame?-weight restrictions, society pressures, coaches?

-When did this truly become a growing concern?

-Where can athletes get help?

-How can this problem be stopped?

-Why is it becoming more of a concern?

-Should athletes be more closely monitored on how they are eating and how much they are exercising?

-Would these athletes have eating disorders even if they were not athletes?

After further thought my research question is:

Are eating disorders among athletes more prominent today due to competitive sports?

RJA #3b

Research Topic Focus

There are many different sides to the correlation between athletes and their eating disorders. Some possible points of disagreement may include:

-How many calories are considered appropriate for athletes both male and female, based on their sport? Here people may argue as to what is considered good or bad for an athlete of that stamina. It could be personal opinion whether the athlete should be eating 3,000 calories, or only 1,200 a day. I think it is important to get the medical opinion to know an accurate way to answer this debate.
-When does their eating become a true eating disorder?
-Are constant athlete dieters or highly restrictive eaters considered disordered?
-Would the athlete affected have the eating disorder regardless of their competitive sport? This may cause debate between many. Some may argue that the eating disorder has nothing to do with them being an athlete, but rather it is a psychological issue they would have regardless.
-Are athletic trainers and coaches to blame? Or even the parents?
-Are competitive level sports good or bad for young adults given the rise in those with disorders?

RJA #3a

Research Topic Exploration

I have begun a pretty general search regarding my topic. Currently I have been searching through Google and found some interesting websites. I am mainly trying to get a broad overview into the issue of competitive sports and eating disorders before narrowing down the search. I think by having an overall idea of the opinions, concerns, etc. regarding my topic it will be easier to begin refining my search. Varying in content, I have bookmarked a few of the better sites I found on my delicious account. One site, I was startled to find that, "according to a 1992 American College of Sports Medicine study, eating disorders affected 62 percent of females in sports like figure skating and gymnastics." (mirror-mirror.org). Not only is this percent high, but a relatively older statistic. I will be very curious to find more current statistics as I believe the numbers may have grown. On almost every site there seems to be a consensus that athletes are easier targets for eating disorders due to the extreme discipline and pressures that often come with the sport. I also found many times a concern over the pressures placed on the athlete by their very coaches. This was a startling idea. To explain, athletes often trust and depend heavily upon their trainers, and it is unsettling to think that often it is the weight standards these trainers have that leave the athlete struggling. Based on the research I have done thus far, I am thinking there is a definite argument as to the correlation between competitive sports and disordered eating.

RJA #2b

For our argumentative paper, I chose the topic of whether competitive sports do or do not cause eating disorders. I am most drawn to this subject because as a Nutrition major I am currently interested in sports dietetics. Hopefully this will be my narrowed field of expertise as I settle into my career as a dietitian in the future. Given my professional goals, the subject of sports related to eating and, more specifically, disordered eating will be an important topic of issue for both me and my patients. Through researching this topic now, I will be able to expand my knowledge on an issue that I will most likely deal with later.

I have plenty to learn regarding my topic of research. However, as of now, I know there are a few specific sports with a direct concern for the rise in athletes with eating disorders. Some of the concerns I have read about are in connection to gymnastics, dancing, figure skating, and wrestling. All of these sports in some sense require weight standards. Just last semester I learned some information regarding eating disorders in my Introduction to Nutrition course. Here we addressed what is called the female athlete triad. One point of this triangle is disordered eating, showing the prevalence of this concern. A related concern can be sports like wrestling where there are weight classes that must be met. The issue could be whether this is safe to be doing. I will look at the opinions of varying athletes, trainers, family, and medical professionals. I think these opinions will all be substantial to address in my understanding of the topic.

There are quite a few things I do not know. One thing I have no idea about is the actual numbers regarding how many athletes do have an eating disorder and what have the rates been over past years to our present. I think finding statistical information will help provide a picture regarding athletes and their eating. I would also like to learn if there is anything being done in attempts to decrease this supposed growing concern. Last, I want to learn if athletes are able to achieve their weight standards in a healthy way, or if it is the weight standards that must change.

RJA #2a

Possible Topics

• Why is diabetes type II on the rise in children?

• Cloned beef-they have the technology, but should we use it?

• Are vegetarian diets good or bad?

• Is today's media making us fatter?

• Do competitive sports cause eating disorders?

The topic I chose was whether competitive sports cause eating disorders.

RJA #1: Areas of Academic Interest

Areas of Academic Interest

• Nutrition and children: growing concern of diabetes and obesity

• Effects of a vegetarian diet

• Nutrition and psychology: effects on each other in regards to eating disorders etc.

• Food advances: cloned beef-good or bad?

• Sports nutrition