Works Cited

Royce, Dana. “Why is Anorexia and Eating Disorders Common in Female Gymnasts?” Survey. 14 Feb. 2013.

Plummer, WilliamGrout, Pam. "Dying For A Medal." People 42.8 (1994): 36. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 11 Apr. 2013.

Quiles-Cestari, Leila Maria, and Rosane Pilot Pessa Ribeiro. "The Occupational Roles Of Women With Anorexia Nervosa." Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem (RLAE) 20.2 (2012): 235-242. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 May 2013.

Leandro, Catarina, Lurdes Ávila-Carvalho, and Eunice Lebre. "The Evaluation Of The Performance Of Rhythmic Gymnastics' Judges."Palestrica Of The Third Millennium Civilization & Sport 11.3 (2010): 202-206. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 May 2013.

"Christy Henrich.." U.S. News & World Report 117.6 (1994): 21. MAS Complete. Web. 01 March 2013.

Documentary

https://www.wevideo.com/hub/#media/ci/83821617

Argumentative Essay

When some people think of Anorexia, they immediately think of the thin gymnasts they see online, in advertisements and on the television. Some of those people wonder “Is it healthy to be that skinny?” or “Why are they so underweight?” These people have great reason to be worried about the condition of these young female gymnasts. Due to the peer pressure of being “the best” and remarks made by coaches and judges, young female gymnasts are being diagnosed with Anorexia and other eating disorders.

When I think about Anorexia, I think about the harsh critiques and rude comments I witnessed as a gymnast over my eleven year career in the sport. The brutal comments and bitter remarks were something that I was use to observing. Even when I knew the comments that were said were wrong and usually lies, my teammates would listen, complying with the pressure to lose weight. The heaviness of the words that were told to my teammates was something that would upset not only the person who it was said to, but the people who knew that their weight was perfectly fine. As I grew older, I realized just how powerful a simple sentence like “Lose five pounds.” Could be.

A gymnast that was a true example of a young female gymnast was Christy Henrich. Christy Henrich was a typical nationally ranked gymnast training for seven hours a day, six days a week. While being a gymnast consumes all of your time, it also consumes your health. Christy was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia, both linked to her active gymnastics career. An article titled “Dying for a Medal”, written by Pam Grout and William Plummer, reveals the sick and twisted truth of the American gymnast. A quote that seemed to start the downward spiral of weight loss for Christy Henrich begins: “Then, in March 1988, after a meet in Budapest, Henrich had a critique session with a U.S. judge who, she later told [her coach], had said Christy was too fat and needed to lose weight to make the Olympic squad.” (Plummer and Grout) The typical suggestion to lose weight asked by a judge is all too common as the sport is “a fertile ground for Anorexia” (Cathy Rigby) After plummeting to 47 pounds, Christy Henrich died on July 26, 1994 of multiple organ failure.

Young women are already insecure and according to my survey data, more than 50% of participants admitted to not knowing the affects of Anorexia and other eating disorders like Bulimia. The young female gymnasts of America are being denounced for their weight, even when they are perfectly healthy. When young women are told to lose weight, they may take the cruel advice to heart and continue to lose weight until they reach the level of Anorexia Nervosa that kill gymnasts like Christy Henrich.

According to “Anorexia: Too Complex an Issue to Simply Blame Mums”, Anorexia is defined as “…diagnostically as a weight loss below a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 17.5 or 15% less than expected, fear of fat and weight gain, and amenorrhoea…” (B. Hooper and E. B. Williams.) A healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) is 18.5–24.9 (nhlbi.nih.gov). “Dying for a Medal” describes today’s average size of the female gymnast as: “today's female gymnast -- whose average size declined from 5 ft.3 in., 105 lbs. in 1976 to 4 ft.9 in., 88 lbs. in 1992” (William Plummer and Pam Grout) The BMI of a gymnast with a height of 5 ft. 3 in., and a weight of 105 lbs. is 18.6; just one tenth of a point of being labeled as “Anorexic”. Today’s ideal gymnast is a size of 4 ft 9 in., 88 lbs; these characteristics create the BMI of 19.0. 19.0 is not Anorexic, but is five tenths of a point from being away from underweight, undernourished and unhealthy.

Anorexia Nervosa and other eating disorders are important and current issues among young female gymnasts that are not always taken seriously. Anorexia is a disorder that according to “Eating Orders and Gymnastics”: “In the 1992 NCAA survey, 51% of the gymnastics programs that responded reported this illness among its team members…” This concludes the argument that more than half of active gymnasts in the United States alone suffer from Anorexia, Bulimia or other eating disorders as a result of the pressure to be “the best”.

The Truth behind Christy Henrich’s Battle of Anorexia Nervos; Academic Summary

In an article titled “Dying for a Medal” written by William Plummer and Pam Grout for Sports Illustrated Magazine, a picture of the battle of Anorexia Nervosa and other eating disorders gymnast Christy Henrich is painted. Christy Henrich died as a result of Anorexia Nervosa and other eating disorders that can be traced back to her former career as a young female gymnast. Plummer and Grout claim that Henrich died as a means of being skinner to be on top of the gymnastics game. Since age eight, the young Henrich from Independence, MO had strong, vivid dreams of becoming an Olympic gold medalist. Sadly, those dreams would eventually kill her in her effort to strive to be the best. The authors who wrote this article for Sports Illustrated Magazine develop this claim by first introducing Henrich’s lifestyle and what lengths the young woman would go to in order to lose the weight she found so necessary to lose. By investigating the real truth behind Christy Henrich’s life and death, Plummer and Grout inform their readers as to why she died and give important details of the years leading up to her tragic death. Lastly, the authors conclude the inside look at the difference behind the gymnast Christy Henrich and the young woman Christy Henrich and how she battled Anorexia Nervosa and other eating disorders. The purpose of this article was to inform Sports Illustrated Magazine’s readers about who Christy Henrich was and the common killer of young female athletes.

Animoto Video

http://animoto.com/play/GWSidlZUdtL4vmm0lOGkyA

Compete Like a Queen; Narrative Poem

She looked up at the ceiling,

Her new rips from last practice now peeling,

Her stomach was rumbling,

She had just been through four hours of tumbling,

She stands in front of her mirror,

Sucking in her abdomen to see the girl her coaches wanted clearer,

She goes and lays on her bed,

Shaking her head,

She needed to be thinner,

Tonight she will skip eating dinner,

She stands on the scale,

Not eating today was a fail,

She can no longer skip a meal and lose weight,

She can barely remember the last time she ate,

Thoughts of herself race through her mind,

She asks herself: “Will I soon be dead?”,

“Why do I do this to myself?” She wonders,

She will soon take an even deeper plunder,

She competes like a queen, 

Will Anorexia or another eating disorder kill this teen?

She slowly starts to wither away,

She has not eaten for one night and half of a day,

Her clothes begin to be larger,

Gymnastics was the girl’s starter,

She will lose five pounds, ten pounds, then fifteen,

With no energy, she can no longer compete like a queen,

By now, her friends and family become more and more scared,

She ignored their pleas, she it was obvious  she no longer cared ,

Without proper nutrition,

She begins a new mission,

She realizes what she has done,

She will not lose five pounds, ten pounds then fifteen;  she will lose not one,

From now on, she tries to help other girls,

That are dealing with the gymnastics whirl.

Research Memo

Hypothesis: In my survey, I hoped to gain more information about what the public thought of Anorexia and Eating Disorders. What was predicted about my survey results was that women would have more sight into the effects of my topic. I believe that women were going to be the majority of the people who thought my topic could be prevented and even stopped. This was predicted because more women have Anorexia and eating disorders than men, perhaps causing them to be more sympathetic and willing to stop it, rather than men.

Context: My targeted survey takers were young women. Young women may be more experienced and knowledgeable with my topic. I was curious to see is my survey participants would answer in a way that I predicted and how I would have answered these questions had I been the individual taking the survey. From pilot testing, I discovered that many people thought that females were the people that according to the public, females were definitely more likely to be a victim of Anorexia and eating disorders. My results are valid and reliable because all of the responses I received are reasonable and honest. None of my answers were skewed or biased because I did not want to form an opinion on what I believed about my topic. I wanted answered based on what my survey participants would have said, had my survey not been skewed or biased.

Results:

	Answer	Trends	Implications	Female	Male
Question one: Are you male or female?	8-Male 17- Female	I had more female participants.	Gives me an idea of how gender will affect the survey questions asked.	48%	32%
Question two: Do you now or have ever played sports?	Female: 3-No 14-Yes Male: 1-No 7- Yes	Most of my participants play or have played sports.	These results give me an idea of who I can expect to be biased about my topic.	Yes: 83% No: 17%	Yes: 86% No: 14%
If yes to question 2, “Have you played any of the following sports?”	Female: Gymnastics, Track & Field, Cheerleading, Tennis, Soccer, Golf Male: Track & Field, Cheerleading, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer	There was a large variety of sports played by my participants.	From these answers, I now know which sports may be linked to my topic.		4
If you selected a sport for question 4, "Have you ever been told to lose weight by a coach or team leader?"	Female: Yes: 6 No: 11 Male: Yes:2 No:5	Most of my participants had not been asked to lose weight.	This question helps me realize which gender would be more prone to being asked to lose weight.	Female: Yes: 35% No:65%	Male: Yes:29% No:71%
If yes to question 4, “How did you comprehend being told to lose weight?”	Female: Questioned yourself mentally: 1 Questioned yourself physically: 1 Lost weight:4 Ignored their suggestion:3 Male: Questioned yourself mentally: 0 Questioned yourself physically: 2 Lost Weight:1 Ignored their suggestion: 0	Most of the people asked to lose weight complied.	Now, with insight on how these survey participants dealt with the suggestion of losing weight, I may have an idea of why some people have Anorexia and eating disorders.	Female: Questioned yourself mentally: .06% Questioned yourself physically: .06% Lost weight:23% Ignored their suggestion:.18%	Male: Questioned yourself mentally: 0% Questioned yourself physically: 26% Lost Weight:15% Ignored their suggestion: 0%
Have you or someone you know ever suffered from Anorexia or other eating disorders?	Female: Yes: 14 No: 3 Male: Yes: 2 No: 5	Most of the women participants in my survey admit to either having known someone with Anorexia and Eating Disorders or have had it themselves.	Mostly Women who took my survey have personally known someone who has suffered from Anorexia and other eating disorders, rather than men.	Female: Yes: 82% No: 18%	Male: Yes: 26% No:74%
On a scale of 1-10, how important do you think informing young teens about Anorexia and eating disorders is?	Female: 10 -7 9-4 8- 1 5-1 4 1 Male: 10-1 8-1 6-1 5-1 3-2 1-1	The female and the male participants had a larger difference in answers.	Women that took my survey answered this question with results that suggests that they are more concerned with my topic.	Female: 10:  41% 9: 24% 8: .06% 5-.06% 4:.06%	Male: 10-14% 8: 14% 6: 14% 5: 14% 3: 29% 1: 14%
Please select the following that you think are important.	Female: Solving Anorexia and eating disorders in sports, Teaching young athletes about Anorexia and eating disorders, Knowing the symptoms of Anorexia and eating disorders Male: Teaching young athletes about Anorexia and eating disorders	Female participants believed there were more solutions in solving this epidemic rather than the male participants.	When it comes to the men that answered this survey question, most of the participants believed that the main way of preventing Anorexia and other eating disorders was to teach the young athletes of the risks of the disease.	Female: Solving Anorexia and eating disorders in sports, Teaching young athletes about Anorexia and eating disorders, Knowing the symptoms of Anorexia and eating disorders	Male: Teaching young athletes about Anorexia and eating disorders
Who do you think is most at risk  for Anorexia or eating disorders	Females: 17- Younger females Males- 8- Younger females	I was surprised that all of my survey takers were unanimous in this survey question.	It was unanimous that younger females were the most at risk for Anorexia and eating disorders because “They are already low confident. Sports, at times, can cause them to question themselves on their weight because of other players.”	Female Younger females: 100%	Male: Younger females: 100%

Data analysis: My first finding was that younger females were most at risk for the epidemic of Anorexia and eating disorders. I was almost surprised with these results because based off of the results of the other questions. My second finding was that many of the participants played or play sports. I found this important because it tells me that they are aware of what Anorexia is and the effects it may have. My third finding that I found surprising as that some of my men participants had been told to lose weight. When I think of Anorexia and weight loss, I usually think of girls because I believe weight loss, I think of insecurities. Most of the time insecurities are associated with girls so I was surprised with the outcome.

Conclusion I found throughout my research and information gathered by my survey that Anorexia and eating disorders was a concern of the public, but not as severe as I thought it would be. Seeing Anorexia and other eating disorders first hand has made me more passionate about this issue. Most of the people I surveyed said that they have not seen Anorexia or other eating disorders in their lives. I believe that if these same people had seen it, they would have answered differently and been more concerned. My survey also suggests that people believe that Anorexia and other Eating disorders could be cut down if more Americans were educated on the effects of the diseases.

Follow Up: in my secondary research, I hope to go more in-depth with my topic. I would like to apply Anorexia and Eating disorders into everyday life for the people who are still not yet convinced of the harmful effects of this epidemic. I was happy though when I read my survey results and people who participated in the survey admitted that it is an epidemic that needs to be solved.

Why is Anorexia and Eating Disorders Common in Young Female Gymnasts?; Exploratory Essay

There are many reasons why I decided to use Anorexia and eating disorders in young female gymnasts as my topic. Since I was four years old, I have been a gymnast, competitive and non competitive. Throughout my long gymnastics career, I have noticed many of my team mates and even famous gymnasts undergo many different kinds of eating disorders and even extreme weight loss. Some blame the pressure of being the “perfect size” for this demanding sport. Others say that it is their coaches and judges that tell them to drop their weight. In all reality, the losing the weight your peers so desperately beg of you usually has no effect on your performance. Sometimes the young gymnasts begin to become more insecure of their looks, weight and performance. Sometimes even becoming addicted to their means for getting thinner, like bulimia and even not eating at all, to please the people who pressure them.

Throughout my research, I have read articles about gymnasts that suffer from such extreme eating disorders that they eventually die. A source that I found that really opened my eyes to how severe this epidemic was in an article written by William Plummer and Pam Grout called “Dying for a Medal” on ebscohost.com. The article focuses on the career and tragic death of gymnast Christy Henrich. Christy Henrich was a young gymnast who was told by many judges to “lose weight”. If Henrich did not comply and drop the weight they told her, she would not be as good of a competitor or perhaps not even allowed to be on her team. Reading about her story and the pain she endured while being a gymnast reminded me of what some girls I was once teammates with went through. I used this article as a source because ebscohost.com because it is a website that is used by Horry County Schools and referred to by teachers.

  Girls already have many insecurities without being told by other people to change about themselves. When someone tells another person to lose weight, sometime they do not know how much weight to lose, or when they do lose the weight, they might not be content with the amount of weight they have lost.

            I decided to choose this as my research topic because it is something that I have experienced and seen in my life. I also think that it is a problem that needs to be fixed because of the effects it has mentally and physically. I think that if there were some kind of rule or law that could ban judges and coaches from telling gymnasts to lose weight, there would be a lot less tragedies like the one of Christy Henrich, who eventually died of her eating disorders. The rules or laws could save at least one young woman from battling eating disorders or Anorexia, it would have an everlasting effect.

            

Anorexia and Eating Disorders in Young Female Gymnasts