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.