Expert: Ryan Hale - 1/10/2011

Question
My daughter is 15 yrs old, 5'5", and a competitive athlete (swimming, running, gymnastics). Since becoming a vegetarian, she has lost wgt, and friends and family are concerned. She weighs about 105#, and wgt loss has stabilized, we think.

She is highly resistant to any suggestions that she gain wgt.  I'm looking for medical data about what an optimum wgt for her might be.

Answer
Alfred- you are right to be concerned.  Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental health issue... not that she's at that point, but keep current on your vigulance.  Often, someone your daughter's age and activity level simply find it hard to keep weight on, however, if she is super active or restricting food for the purpose of weight control, that is a problem.  With athletes, you have hope that may not be found in others with disordered eating, that is: food is fuel for competition!  It's important for a young athlete to learn how to feed the machine.  Take her to a nutritionist who has experience with athletes.  Athletes who depend on their size to be an advantage often fall into the trap of thinking that they need to be super thin to be successful.  I can't tell you how many athletes I've worked with who, after educating themselves and changing their diet, tell me 'I can't believe I wasted so much time being average and it was due to my food restriction... I could have been doing so much better all this time.'  

Also, it is important to understand the concept of periodization.  That is, the practice of taking time off, rebuilding general fitness and strength, shaping your base fitness into sport specific fitness, competing, and then doing the cycle all over again.  This takes the entire year and it is impossible to be at peak fitness all year long.  Again, many of the athletes I work with compete all year long, but they pick times of the year that are going to be most important.  For example, a soccer placer I work with will be at her peak fitness for club season when she is traveling around to showcase events where the college scouts will be.  Then she goes right into fall city league.  It's a chance for her to reconnect with friends, help coach kids teams, and basically remember why she plays soccer... for fun and health.  She doesn't give a lot of energy and effort.  During the winter is indoor season.  She has been keeping generally active but doing a variety of exercises and not just soccer.  Indoor is a chance to work on some skills and play a faster game but only once or twice a week.  Spring high school season is like spring training in baseball.  Not taken super seriously, but the effort is taken up a little and soccer is concentrated on.  Then it's summer again and time to peak for the year.  During the Fall and winter, she has been swimming and lifting weights for strength and fitness, only running a couple times per week, rehabbing injuries and gaining 3-10 lbs.

If your daughter is trying to be super competitive all year long, she doesn't have a chance to recover.  Also, anxiety and depression often go along with eating disorders and can even occur together so if necessary, have her see someone about issues related to her life, relationships, family issues, etc.  Remind her that all the best athletes see sport psychologists if she's resistant.  It's hard to talk to her about and I'm sure she resists, but it was the same with talking to her about sex, hygiene, and drugs/alcohol right?  Both of you would rather talk about anything else, but it's important to be an involved parent when it comes to this.