[CUCBC Captains] Eating Disorders Awareness week 21st - 27th February

[R.S. O'Neill]

Hello,

We may have already met, but if not, my name is Rosa O'Neill, and I'm the 
CUSU Eating Disorders support officer. Eating Disorders affect 1 in 4 
people in their lives, the majority between the ages of 16 and 25.

Among sportspeople, the percentage affected may be at least 10% higher than 
the national average. There still remains a large amount of stigma and 
stereotypes about Eating Disorders, which often prevent sufferers seeking 
help, and in sports particularly it can be hard to distinguish between 
careful training and diet and disordered eating. Sports-specific anorexia - 
sometimes called 'anorexia athletica' or 'female athlete's triad' is a 
specific, but very much underpublicized issue, which presents differently, 
and can be harder to recognise, to other eating disorders.

While it is often the case than a lower than average, or sometimes lower 
than medically recommended, weight is desirable for optimum performance, 
the maintenance of a low weight in an unsupervised or excessive way has the 
potential to become extremely damaging, both as a sportsperson, and to 
general health.

>From the 21st to the 27th of February it is National Eating Disorders 
Awareness week, which aims to raise awareness and increase knowledge of 
Eating Disorders and fight the stigma and taboos which are so detrimental 
to sufferers. As part of this campaign, I would really like to raise the 
profile and increase knowledge of eating disorders and sport- what they 
are, how they affect sufferers, and ways in which to support and help 
sufferers.

I am putting together a pack of information (which I will send around 
hopefully in the next few days), and I would really appreciate it if you 
could send this around your mailing lists during the week of the 21st of 
February. I was also hoping to run some talks, training sessions or Q&A 
sessions, either to members, if you felt there might be some interest, or 
alternatively particularly to coaches and committee members. This could 
either be run as a university-wide talk open to all, or in smaller sessions 
for specific groups. Or some mixture of the two. If any of these would be 
of interest, or you have any thoughts on which of these options might be 
most popular, please let me know! Also, if anyone has any comments, 
suggestions ideas or would like to get involved in EDAW, please do let me 
know- all help and ideas appreciated! Thanks very much, Rosa O'Neill