In the News: A New Eating Disorder is on the Rise.

 

We’ve all heard about eating disorders before, whether is anorexia nervosa or bullemia, and we are all aware that eating disorders are a growing concern in the female, as well as, the male population.  However; there’s a new eating disorder on the rise that several people are unaware of, and it’s called orthorexia nervosa.  For my third installment of In the News, I came across a CNN Health news article called Orthorexia: When Healthy Eating Becomes an Obsession.  According to the article, “Orthorexia is characterized by disordered eating fueled by a desire for ‘clean’ or ‘healthy’ foods.  Those diagnosed with the condition are overly pre-occupied with the nutritional makeup of what they eat.  They rigidly avoid any food they deem to be ‘unhealthy,’ or spend excessive amounts of time and money in search of the ‘most pure’ foods.”

There is, however, a fine line between eating well and eating obsessively.  Because of the lack of information and research on orthorexia, it is unclear how widespread this disorder is.  Signs of orthorexic individuals include heavy spending on “pure” foods as well as eating unbalanced meals.  According to an individual who had suffered from orthorexia, “Orthorexic eating becomes almost like a religion.  It becomes a position instead of a preference.  You can’t eat out with a friend.  You can’t go to the party.  You have to bring your own food wherever you go.”  That is the key difference between obsessive eating and eating well.

As an athletic trainer, we must be able to recognize eating disorders amongst our athletes.  In order to have a better chance at recognizing and helping and individual with an eating disorder we must work hard at forming and keeping a respectful relationship with our athletes.  If our athletes trust and feel comfortable around us, the chances of them seeking help and guidance are greatly increased.  We must also be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of every eating disorder and pay attention to the dietary habits of our athletes.  In terms of orthorexia, we must be able to identify the difference between eating obsessed and eating well.  Our scope of practice doesn’t allow us to diagnose and treat eating disorders, but it does give us the opportunity to be able to identify the potential of one.  We must refer the athlete to a qualified individual who specializes in disordered eating.

 

The following is a good questionnaire you can ask an athlete to determine if they should seek help...

If you identify with two or more of the following traits, you may want to seek out a nutritionist or counselor. (According to Thomas Dunn (Associate professor of Psychology at the University of Northern Colorado)).

• You consume a nutritionally unbalanced diet because of concerns about "food purity."

• You're preoccupied about how eating impure or unhealthy foods will affect your physical or emotional health.

• You rigidly avoid any food you deem to be "unhealthy," such as those containing fat, preservatives, additives or animal products.

• You spend three or more hours per day reading about, acquiring or preparing certain kinds of food you believe to be "pure."

• You feel guilty if you eat foods you believe to be "impure."

• You're intolerant of other's food beliefs.

• You spend an excessive proportion of your income on "pure" foods.

If you recognize any of the above behaviors in yourself, seeking the help of a medical professional should be your first step. Reclaiming balance isn't easy, but some of these tips might help:

• Seek a compromise. Even if you're stuck at a place where there's seemingly "nothing to eat," you can still find a way to take care of yourself -- even if that means grabbing a fast-food salad, says Krongberg.

• Stop demonizing foods as "good" or "bad" and visit a nutritionist to sort through the clutter of conflicting health advice around you, says Angela Ginn, spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

• See a therapist to deal with the emotional components of eating disorders, such as poor self-esteem or a need to feel in control.

 

In the News: Long Work Hours & Type 2 Diabetes

For my second installment of In the News, I decided to choose a different path in terms of healthcare.  Instead of focusing on the athletic and patient population, the following research focuses on the work population, more specifically, athletic training.  A recent study, found in Medical News Today, concluded that long hours combined with a low-salary in jobs have been linked to a 30% increase in type 2 diabetes among working professionals. Researchers believe that long working hours can cause stress, unhealthy lifestyles, depressive symptoms, and disturbed sleep.  These results can contribute to the development of diabetes.  While Athletic Training wasn’t one of the jobs listed in the study, it very much fits into the demographic of long hours and low income.

Athletic trainers don’t necessarily earn a low-income, but compared to the 50-60+ hours that they do put in, the salary doesn’t add up.  With an increase in work hours, there is a decrease in sleep and physical activity.  The lack of sleep as well as physical exercise has been seen far too often in athletic training.  These two examples can predispose an individual to type 2 diabetes.  According to Mika Kivimaki, the professor who conducted this study, “although working long hours in unlikely to increase diabetes risk in everyone, health professionals should be aware that it is associated with a significantly increased risk in people doing low socioeconomic status jobs.”

I believe that this study should be eye-opening to athletic trainers.  Maintaining a healthy lifestyle for ourselves should be a top priority.  There is always enough time to perform 10-15 minutes of physical activity a day, no matter how busy an individual is.  Whether it's walking from field to field instead of taking a cart, or going on a light jog on a lunch break, being physically fit is important in staying healthy.  Stress is another factor that has been prevalent in this profession and can be linked to type 2 diabetes.  Athletic trainers must learn to deal with problems in a calm demeanor. 

While it may be impossible to change work hours and your salary, our health can be positively manipulated with the right amount of effort.

In the News: Concussions & High School Football

Last week, TIME Magazine published a story called The Tragic Risks of American Football.  The story was written about a high school football player, by the name of Chad Stover, whose life was cut short due to a traumatic brain injury during one of his games.  Aside from talking about Chad Stover and his family, TIME went on to discuss the lack of medical assistance that night and the debate over whether American football is safe for today’s youth and where the game is headed in the future.  While this story is eye-opening to some, concussion tragedies are becoming an all too familiar story in today’s society.

 Can football withstand the test of time in a society filled with worries for the future of America’s youth?  I believe that with the recent research, parents and athletes are becoming more aware of the risks that are involved with the sport, and thus skeptic about becoming involved.  While there have been changes made at all levels to try and protect athletes from the potential risk of a brain injury, concussions are inevitable in football.  One change that I believe will be beneficial to the youth population is eliminating tackle football from children under the age of 14.  In other words, tackle football begins once the individual has entered high school.  Will this change eliminate the risk of concussion related deaths in athletes? No.  However, I agree with Dr. Robert Cantu when he says that, “younger brains are more susceptible to injury and that a reduction in head contact before adolescence would reduce the chance of long-term brain damage.” 

   Another important piece of information that the story touches upon, is the lack of medical assistance at the high school level.  The state of Missouri (where the story is set), as well as other states, do not require an athletic trainer or an ambulance at regular-season high school football games.  The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) gave a couple astonishing statistics in the story stating that, “only 39% of public high schools have access to a full-time certified athletic trainer, and 30% of schools have no training services at all.”  These statistics need to drastically change if we have any hope at all of saving our youth from traumatic brain injuries.  While schools may believe that having only an EMT present at games is beneficial, it is the athletic trainer that high schools really need.  Athletic trainers are specialized in concussion evaluations and spinal injury assessments, while EMTs are not.  I understand that budgets make it hard for all schools to have an athletic training services provided, but I believe that in the future, school systems should begin to plan to set aside a budget to provide an athletic trainer and each and every school across the country.  This needs to happen if sports like football continue to exist.

In small towns, like Tipton, MO, as well as larger cities, high school football is a glorified sport.  The iconic “Friday Night Lights” excitement and feeling is one that everyone has experienced at one time or another.  It is sad that such a beloved sport can cause such traumatic injuries.  However, changes need to be made in order to preserve this sport for the future.  This story is definitely worth the read and I hope it will spark a discussion with my followers.

My Philosophy as a Graduate Athletic Training Student

By definition, an Athletic Trainer is a “health care professional who collaborates with physicians while providing services in prevention, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions”.  While all of this is true, I believe that athletic training is MUCH more than that.  In my opinion, it takes one truly special individual to become an athletic trainer.  While some of these professionals are content with just being average, it is those professionals, who go above and beyond the basic “definition”, who truly excel in this field.  My philosophy is that athletic training is what you put into it. 

In terms of patient care, I offer patients with the best care I can possibly give. My top priority is the health and wellness of my athletes and patients.  While this sometimes may be a difficult task due to external factors, I am confident in my decision-making process and strive to always do what is best for the patient.   As a former athlete myself, I understand the demands that athletics have on the human body as well as the dedication that athletes possess to want to compete at the highest level possible.  From this understanding, I provide positive encouragement and a helping hand to those who are injured, while working hard to protect those who aren’t.

Along with patient care, I take great pride in forming respectful relationships with my athletes and patients.  I understand that opinions may vary, but I believe successful athletic trainers are those who understand their patients’ backgrounds and provide them with a sense of comfort.  The interaction with athletes on a daily basis, as well as being the individual who gets the opportunity to inspire and encourage an athlete from the time of his or her injury to the moment he or she takes the first step onto the field post-injury, is what drew me to this profession.

As an athletic training student, I believe in the importance of evidence-based practice and clinical experience.  The decisions that I make in the clinic are formed from evidenced-based ideas and practices.  If I am unaware of a certain injury or method, I will work hard to find an educated answer.  I believe that clinical experience is an invaluable learning tool and something students should take very seriously. I always let my passion drive my desire to learn and experience as much as I can when I'm in the athletic training room.  Asking questions and engaging in discussions with preceptors, only add to the clinical experience.  If you put in “average” work in the clinic, you will gain only an “average” experience.  I have the desire to be an extraordinary athletic trainer, so I put in extraordinary effort both in the classroom and in the clinic.  Again, athletic training is what you put into it.

I am an Athletic Trainer

 

"So God made an Athletic Trainer."

 

This video illustrates how important Athletic Training is to the world of physically active individuals.  It also demonstrates the demands and challenges that athletic trainers endure on an every day basis.  If you don't understand exactly what the life of an athletic trainer is, please watch this video.

Welcome to my blog! If you're looking for some up to date news in the world of Athletic Training you have found the right place.  Along with the new information, I will also be sharing my thoughts and experiences as a Graduate Athletic Training Student.  I look forward to hearing about your own experiences and thoughts as well!