Ep. 59: Eating Disorders and Athletes with Shane Jeffrey

Anna Mackay and Anna Lutz have a conversation with Shane Jeffrey, an Accredited Practicing Dietitian, Accredited Sports Dietitian and Strength and Conditioning Coach, about eating disorders in the sports world, and the slippery slope that disordered eating behaviors can be for both elite level athletes, as well as recreational athletes. 

They discuss:

  • Some behaviors that might alert family members, teammates, or coaches that an athlete is struggling.
  • Common misconceptions around young athletes with regards to weight, body shape, fitness levels, and food intake.
  • The importance of having conversations about changes in bodies, particularly as kids go through puberty.
  • The unique skill set a dietitian has that makes them a valuable part of a treatment team.
  • The role of parents, caregivers and family members in the treatment and recovery process.
  • Tips for family members, friends, or teammates of someone struggling that might help them avoid colluding with the eating disorder.

Links: 

Shane Jeffrey is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian, an Accredited Sports Dietitian and Strength and Conditioning Coach with  over 25 years experience in the field of eating disorders and is the founder and clinical director at River Oak Health, based in Brisbane, Australia. Shane is trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy- Enhanced (CBT-E), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Family Based Treatment (Maudsley Method) (FBT), Health at Every Size ® (HAES®), Motivational Interviewing and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).