Recent research indicates that many female athletes experience serious health problems when pushed too hard, including but not limited to disordered eating, osteoporosis, and disrupted menstrual cycles. Female athletes are a high-risk group for developing eating disorders, primarily because weight gain (a natural part of physical maturity) may threaten athletic performance.

In 2003 and 2004, Wisconsin high school student Alex DeVinny was a state champion in cross-country running and track, and earned a running scholarship to the University of South Carolina. What people didn't know was that she had been struggling with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa since the age of 9. Alex DeVinny lost her battle with the eating disorder at age 20, when she succumbed to heart failure.

Alex's father, Doug DeVinny, has organized a conference at the University of Wisconsin in memory of Alex. The "Running on Empty" conference will focus on the dangers faced by female athletes, and will bring together experts and speakers to discuss these threats. Mr. DeVinny commented on his motivation for putting together the event, "It's very difficult for my wife and I to do this. ... Part of the mission, part of what we owe to our daughter, what we couldn't do for her, perhaps we can do for somebody else." (Source: www.jsonline.com)

Labels: athletes, long-term-health

Posted By: Aspen Education Group