A new guide on nutrition for camogie players has been launched. The Daily Shift’s David Prendergast has the full story…
‘Eat Smart – Move Smart’ being launched by the Camogie association
The Camogie Association and the Nutrition and Health Foundation have launched a nutrition guide.
The booklet, Eat Smart, Move Smart: A Diary and Nutrition Guide for the Teenage Camogie Player, is aimed at developing young girls attitude to a healthy balance between food and exercise.
Participation in sports can be good for young women who are vulnerable to eating disorders.
According to Ruth Ní Eidhin of Bodywhys, the Eating Disorder Association of Ireland, while women may feel an added pressure to attain or maintain a certain figure, playing sports can have a positive effect. Ní Eidhin says:
“There is evidence that participation in team sports in particular can have a very positive impact on young female body images.”
She believes sport can develop self-esteem, enhance social interaction skills and contribute a feel good factor among young women who are feeling self-conscious about their bodies. Joan O’Flynn, former president of the Camogie Association said of the matter:
‘‘I think sports would be a good way to avoid eating disorders. They encourage and support a healthy work ethic and athletes become more aware of the importance of exercise and a balanced nutrition.”
There are currently 100,000 women playing camogie at club and county level in Ireland. Suzanne Horgan, director and founder of Eating Disorder Resource Centre of Ireland, added:
“There are approximately 200,000 people experiencing eating disorders in Ireland and many of these would be females who are involved in a ‘weight sensitive’ profession and may be under more pressure to look a certain way such as, celebrities, models, dancers and of course athletes.”
The only official statistics relating to eating disorders in Ireland were brought out by the Department of Health in 2006. It suggested that female teenagers are particularly vulnerable to such diseases as they are bombarded with influential cultural material relating to weight and appearance.
Anorexia has a mortality rate of 20% in Ireland.
The guide is available for €7.99 including post and packaging. Order forms can be downloading at www.camogie.ie.
