Harambe wrote:
Look man, I'm all for the "D1 athletics is the real deal and you're not always going to be happy" argument, but eating disorders are a very real thing. This is not something that you can choose to avoid. Environmental triggers (not in the modern 'trigger warning' sense), such as a coach pressuring about weight and/or a team's eating culture, can drive athletes into disordered eating.
Make no mistake eating disorders are a DISEASE that the athlete has no control over. Comments about weight can drive athletes down this road by acting as environmental drivers towards disease manifestation. This is a justifiable mental health concern.
I agree, but coaches are in a very tough spot. The simple fact is that staying lean or getting leaner is an incredibly important aspect of distance running performance. Collegiate running isn't a fitness class for all comers. It's literally a proving ground for Olympians. Are coaches supposed to pretend that weight doesn't matter because some athletes might be susceptible to disordered eating? Of course not. The question is HOW to address body composition.
It requires some nutritional expertise and psychological finesse, but nothing remarkable. For instance, don't ever talk about appearance (good or bad). Focus on raw numbers like body fat % instead. Emphasize healthy eating habits (e.g., nutrient timing, macronutrient ratios, whole foods, minimizing sugar, minimizing saturated fat), not just calorie restriction. Discuss food in positive terms (e.g., it's fuel, it rebuilds your damaged muscles), not as something to be avoided. Most coaches are capable of doing this without the help of a campus dietitian. (Incidentally, I wouldn't be surprised if the school's dietitian were actually hostile to the idea of trying to be lean for performance reasons.)