That fight nearly cost Bethel her life: In September, she went into cardiac arrest while running on a campus track. Soon after, Bethel was suspended from school and even banned from campus, because university officials considered her a danger to herself."
(photo attributed to AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)When you read this article in its entirety, you realize that this young woman knew her performance on the swim team diminished to a frightening low, and yet it took being ostrasized from her school to wake her up. I'm just glad she woke up to the fact that what she eats and how much she eats makes the difference between success and failure, life and death.
Although we often attribute the pressure to "make weight" to boys in sports, girls struggle with this just as often. We know that the undernourished don't perform as well in school. This is the main reason the School Lunch and Breakfast programs exist. It's crucial that as parents we watch for signs of eating disorders and research proper treatment methods. If you suspect your child has an eating disorder, partner with your pediatrician for answers and support.
1 comment:
I love this picture because it makes me remember when I was a child and enjoy the parks so much
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