How Can Teachers & Coaches Help to Prevent Eating Disorders?

Sports are a fun and active way to improve physical health, but participation in sports activities also carries a host of positive mental benefits as well. People who play sports generally see their ability to cooperate with teammates improve, find they have a stronger commitment to self discipline, and are more practiced at making decisions.

But sports can also carry pressure that bears down on those playing. And not just on field pressure, but off field burdens that can put some at risk for mental or emotional problems. One common issue in some sports is the risk of eating disorders. For sports that emphasize appearance or strict weight control, such as gymnastics or wrestling, athletes can find their attitudes toward food drifting into dangerous territory.

Student athletes are at particular risk for developing eating disorders. While women are more likely than men to be at risk, men are also subjected to these health conditions. And though genetics do play a role, it is social and cultural pressures that often push athletes into these damaging behaviors and attitudes.

The most effective way to prevent eating disorders in at-risk athletes is involvement with mentor figures. Particularly coaches, who hopefully will be on the look out for changes in their athletes behaviors or weight. A strong coach figure can moderate destructive personality changes, and keep athletes safe even when they’re not playing.

Key Points:

  • 1Being involved in sports usually makes a person healthier.
  • 2Prefered body types in some sports can lead to eating disorders.
  • 3It is important to involve teachers, dieticians, and counselors to help the student athletes perform in a more cohesive environment.


When coaches and teachers start to focus on the team as a whole, talents of the person, as well as performance, it enhances student athlete’s self-confidence and self-worth.
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Written by HealthStatus
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our health risk assessment, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years.

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