While waiting for my hubby at the pool last night I was talking to two of the lifeguards, one (female) is a former student of mine. The other, a guy, is really nice as well.
"She" was eating some Greek food from the "newer" restaurant across the street from the pool. We started talking about her food and the conversation quickly took a turn to how she, and many other age groupers on the team, are throwing up during workout. I was stunned and asked her why. She said that she just does it to get out early. But the others go home from school and gorge themselves and then go swimming and intentionally throw up to get rid of it (usually in the gutter!). They are bulimic. The male lifeguard concurred and said he was disgusted but yes they do do it all the time.
They both said that the synchro girls are worse and that they are constantly told they are too fat by coaches and parents. (I haven't seen a synchro girl that isn't too skinny already). They too are bulimic.
Being a former student of mine, I put on my teacher hat, and told her that if she learned about nutrition she wouldn't be so hungry, etc..
She said, "Yea, they teach us about nutrition."
I said, "Who?"
"The coaches, but we don't listen."
I just don't remember being THAT stupid as an age group swimmer...
This is alarming. I don't remember this being an issue when I was a teen (though who knows what went on in the girls locker room). I worry for my 3-year old daughter (and son, to be honest)...
Karen -
I am shocked by this post!
It has been about 2 1/2 years since I coached age-group swimmers but never experienced this behavior.
I occassionally watch the age-group practices here at the pools I coach at and again have never seen or heard anything like this.
Call me a horn blower, but I think the conversation should be brought to the attention of concerned adults.
Even if it is in a semi-anonymous manner.
I would not be so quick to put this odd phenomenon on the lack of perceived "listening skills" of the younger generation. I am a bit older than current age-groupers (25), but I don't think things have deteriorated so much in less then 10 years. I swim with and around a USA swimming club team (most of the swimmers are in the 12-16 age range). They are all good kids, swim hard, and I never have observed any out of place behavior like that.
In all truth, I could never keep enough food down (much less throw it up on purpose) when I was putting in 5000 + yards each day in the pool plus dry land training!
This is a hard issue as there is more pressure than ever on girls to be thin. We spend a bunch of time with our kids talking about nutrition and modeling good behavior. I would talk to the parents of the swimmers if this was my team - there are serious long term health issues related to eating disorders. I know of a friend's daughter who was on a division 1 swimming scholarship and she had a teammate with an eating disorder. It's far more common than you think.
--mj
I would not say it is widespread, but it is enough of a problem that USA Swimming formed a task force on disordered eating. My hope is that all coaches of age-group swimmers will take the time to read the article below:
web.usaswimming.org/.../ViewMiscArticle.aspx
Also, an interesting book, My Name is Caroline, tells the story of a young lady who developed bulimia while she was a student at the National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C. An outstanding swimmer and student, Caroline mentions in her book how she learned the bulimic behavior from her fellow swimmers on the team. The book is her story of how she developed and overcame bulimia. I would highly recommend this book to any coach that works with female swimmers between the ages of 12 and 18.
This type of behavior does exist - I've seen it too many times as a swimmer and as a coach. It is, however, not something that is open and obvious. Girls suffering from bulimia are masters are keeping it hidden. Also, they are often of normal weight and may not discuss weight issues openly.
I currently practice with an age group team and have for 3 years and I have never seen weight be an issue. I talk to the kids on the team a bit and I have never heard them mention their weight like it was a huge issue. I know none are throwing up during practice unless they were really sick. Actually, we had one girl last week throw up (she was sick) and get back in and complete the practice. After reading what you heard, Karen, I'm thankful that I have not dealt with this on my team.
I think the coaches of that team need to be made aware of this issue.
This was definitely NOT a cry for help. Perhaps even more disturbing was the passive, that's just the way it is, matter of factness about it. The girl I mentioned has always been a bit lazy, not a go getter by any stretch. She was not throwing up, her teammates are.
Since I heard this at 8:30 last night and won't get to the pool until tonight, I haven't had a chance to speak with one of their coaches (who actually is one of my coaches too).
I just find it hard to believe that kids are throwing up in gutters and the coaches don't notice? Come on. I'll find out more when I talk to the coach tonight.
Some coaches can be quite oblivious to it and could think throwing up in the gutters is just a sign they are pushing themselves hard.
My college coach brought in a nutritionist because it was somehow determined that 30% of the girls on the team had a form of disordered eating. We had at least 3 that I know were bulimic.
