Running on Empty: The Culture of Eating Disorders among Female Runners
Item
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Title
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Running on Empty: The Culture of Eating Disorders among Female Runners
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Creator
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Lindie M. Larson
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Date of Award
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6/15/2025
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Honors Program Director
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Gavin Keulks
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Faculty Advisor
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Emily Vala-Haynes
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Abstract
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Disordered eating and eating disorders are serious mental conditions that can have significant physiological, psychological, and performance-related consequences, especially among female runners. This population is especially vulnerable to disordered eating and eating disorders due to cultural pressures and expectations within the sport which emphasize thinness and losing weight in order to improve performance. These pressures result in many female runners turning towards disordered eating behaviors to meet their coaches’ expectations and improve their times. However, these behaviors can have many negative consequences that affect not just their performance but their overall health as well. In order to combat and prevent this issue, it is important to raise awareness about disordered eating and its consequences among female runners and those who frequently interact with them, such as coaches, athletic trainers, and family. While prevention is preferable, early intervention and treatment are also essential for limiting the damaging effects of disordered eating and promoting a full recovery for female runners.
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Type
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Text
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Department
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Honors
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Language
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eng
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Rights
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Western Oregon University Library has determined, as of 6/29/2025, this item is in copyright, which is held by the author. Users may use the item in accordance with copyright limitations and exceptions, including fair use. For other uses, please ask permission from the author.
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https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en
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Identifier
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honorstheses_091725c
