Researchers from Swansea University’s School of Human and Health Sciences have been awarded £100k by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to investigate ethical aspects of the impact of eating disorders on elite gymnasts.
Professor Mike McNamee, Dr Jacinta Tan, Dr Andrew Bloodworth and Dr Jeanette Hewitt will begin the 18-month project this summer, in partnership with British Gymnastics, the official governing body for gymnastics within the UK.
One of the study’s lead researchers Professor Mike McNamee said: “There is no current data on the prevalence of eating disorders in gymnastics, though previous Norwegian research suggests significantly higher levels of eating disorders among elite athletes than the general population.
“British Gymnastics already have a framework for supporting eating disordered gymnasts, and we are really interested in those gymnasts who may exhibit eating disorders at a sub-clinical level to see what effects they may be having on a range of issues like adolescent autonomy, identity and responsibility. This is often at a point when the gymnast’s sense of self is in a state of instability whilst they are highly committed to their performance goals within gymnastics. With 2012 Olympics approaching the propensity for commitment is likely to be magnified.”
This is a multi-disciplinary project drawing from philosophical, psychiatric, and social scientific research perspectives to understand the ethos of elite gymnastics.
The Swansea research team will explore a range of questions in order to ascertain the prevalence of symptoms of eating disorders and its impact on both male and female elite gymnasts.
They will investigate how elite gymnasts develop freedom of choice, self image and identity within the elite gymnastics environment and they will also investigate any impact of having features of an eating disorder.
The project’s key outcome will be to identify features of eating disorders – before they reach clinical levels – in the contexts of elite gymnastics that can be used to develop a prevention programme for eating disorders.
“While all our National Governing Bodies are working flat out to develop world class programmes in order to deliver Olympic, World and European success, and role models for healthy living, it is crucial that an ethically responsible stance is taken towards the development of elite athletic talent, “ added Professor McNamee.
“It is therefore necessary to work within elite sports cultures to understand the pressures they are under and to help to develop frameworks of care that can identify athletes who are potentially at risk and to understand how best to support them in ways that are sensitive to their very highly specialised and demanding sporting pursuits.
“We are delighted that British Gymnastics, who are highly committed to promoting the welfare of elite gymnasts, have come on board with us to explore this important but sensitive research area, and for the ESRC for their financial support of this project.
“We hope that together with British Gymnastics we will develop models of best practice that may be shared across the spectrum of sports activities, especially those where body weight control and weight classifications are important.”
For more information on the School of Human and Health Sciences visit http://www.swansea.ac.uk/humanandhealthsciences/, and British Gymnastics visit http://www.british-gymnastics.org/.
