The National Eating Disorders Association [NEDA]
has launched a new educational toolkit aimed at coaches and trainers. Created
specifically to educate and raise awareness with gyms, athletic programs and
athletic departments across the nation, this will expand NEDA's
library of toolkits and will support NEDA's
"It's Time to Talk About It" campaign.
Created as a resource for athletic directors and their staff, this
toolkit will inform them about the facts behind eating disorders, as well as
help them identify those affected specifically within a gym or athletic
setting. It is also written as a guide to possible treatments. NEDA has already brought in key partners for its Toolkit
program, and plans to expand it through appropriate channels nationwide.
As Lynn Grefe, CEO of NEDA
has said, "We are pleased to bring this information to the world of sports
and coaching. Eating disorders have certainly found their way into athleticism
and sports competition, so it is important that people in authority know how to
recognize the symptoms, understand the illness and what to do next to help the
athlete. For too long, eating disorders have been ignored or set aside in the
name of victory, and we believe that the health of the individual should come
first. We trust others would agree."
"The Coach and Trainer Toolkit, developed by the National Eating
Disorders Association, has the answers that many
coaches and trainers need to best help their athletes. Strongly recommended as
a resource for all coaches, trainers, and physical education teachers,"
says Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, PhD, MPH, RD.
The Toolkit includes frequently asked questions and common myths about
eating disorders, strategies for assisting both men and women, information on
the female athlete triad, how to handle eating disorders in a team or school
setting and also has stories and recommendations from athletes themselves. NEDA's toolkit program was originally developed in response
to requests by educators for a simple, easy-to-use format to find answers to
questions and concerns and has since been expanded to respond to the needs of
parents and now gyms and athletic departments.
The toolkit can be downloaded here:
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/uploads/file/toolkits/NEDA-Toolkit-Coaches_07-2010.pdf
We welcome your feedback on this article. Please e-mail
us at: amfeedback@momentummedia.com