Thoughts from the Front Line:
Battling with Disordered Eating by shoshanna rutemiller
World champions Dagny Knutson and Gemma Spofforth discuss disordered eating
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from two different perspectives.
t’s no secret that adequate nutrition is a key part of an athlete’s success. But what happens when an athlete’s relationship with food turns unhealthy? In recent years, a number of high-level athletes have opened up about their personal struggles with disordered eating. Five-time Olympian Dara Torres and four-time Olympian Amanda Beard previously discussed struggling with bulimia (the binge-and-purge disorder) as college student-athletes. The California Department of Public Health defines disordered eating as: “Any abnormal eating pattern, ranging from less extreme to extreme behaviors. Disordered eating includes a collection of interrelated eating habits; weight management practices; attitudes about food, weight and body shape; and physiological imbalances. Disordered eating includes classic eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder) as well as eating patterns of lesser severity.” Swimming World Magazine had the chance to talk with a pair of swimmers who are on the front line of the battle against disordered eating: world champions Dagny Knutson and Gemma Spofforth. DAGNY KNUTSON Dagny Knutson, 21, a 2011 world champion in the women’s 800 freestyle relay and U.S. national team member since 2008, checked herself into treatment for her own eating disorder in January 2012. She had struggled for years with bulimia, binge-eating and anorexic-like behavior. Her symptoms began in high school while she was breaking national high school records in 2008-09—just as four-time Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin is doing today. Quite frankly, Dagny was Missy before Missy was Missy in terms of early success and expectations. Unfortunately for Knutson, the pathway to success that Franklin has enjoyed was cut off due in large part to her eating disorder. Knutson successfully completed months of treatment last year after checking herself into the Emily Center, a clinic specializing in treating people struggling with eating disorders. Her treatment included clinic and outpatient care at both the Emily Center in Minneapolis and the Shands Eating Disorder Recovery Center in
pictured > (From left) An outing with Dagny Knutson and her sisters, Kelcie and Jamie, in Minneapolis while she was a resident at the Emily Program.
[ photo
provided by dagny knutson ]
Gainesville, Fla. She has also undergone therapy and nutritional counseling. Knutson returned to training last August and to competition in November at the Minneapolis Grand Prix. Since returning to the pool, she has openly discussed the long process required to overcome an eating disorder, and has given a number of talks to young athletes. She presents herself as an example for other athletes who may be struggling with similar issues. Swimming World Magazine caught up with Knutson to talk about the early causes of her disordered eating and what she found most helpful in treatment: Her nutrition education growing up: The only nutritional education I learned growing up was what I learned in school from friends, from parents and other external sources. It’s easy for people’s perceptions of “health” to get skewed when ideas come from someone—or something—other than a professional. The reasons behind her disordered eating: As a female, it was almost natural for me to feel selfconscious about my body because of how our society is today. Although my eating disorder stemmed from a deep emotional issue, bad body image enabled my disorder. (Wearing) a swimsuit—especially for females—can be really tough. It definitely was for me. — continued on 18 February 2013
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