Certain sports are known for their emphasis on weight – long distance running, skating, gymnastics and cheerleading to name a few. And it’s tough to convince many young females that they actually need to eat more and possibly even work on gaining weight for better athletic performance.
So when I read a New York Times story about American ice dancer Tanith Belbin I was impressed with her and her coach. Belbin’s coach Natalia Linichuk convinced the ice dancer that 10 pounds of muscle would help her perform better on the ice. In a world where thin is in and disordered eating is common, Belbin is an excellent role model for young female athletes who struggle with their body image and disordered eating. Yes, she is still slim for her size but her BMI is in a healthy range and given that she is happy about her stronger body, Belbin has gotten over the mindset that she must be ultra thin to be competitive.
I’ve seen some female athletes compete very well at a very low weight (or even with a full blown eating disorder). But, it always catches up to them. Performance drops, they end up with stress fractures or other injuries, get sick or a combination of these things happen. Whatever the reason may be, I’ve never seen a female athlete who can maintain their performance and health at an unhealthy weight and with disordered eating or an eating disorder.
