Competitive, driven, determined and perfectionistic. These characteristics make for an excellent athlete, but are the very characteristics that lead to the formation of an eating disorder. The pressure to perform at a high level as a student athlete can be detrimental to one’s health as it was for Jennifer Medina. Now pursuing her Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Jennifer helps student athletes struggling with eating disorders and body image issues make better decisions for their health.If you are a male with an eating disorder that is or has been an athlete at the college level NBC would like to interview you! Please reach out to Kevin Nious (Kevin.Nious@nbcuni.com) if you are interested in sharing your story and continuing the media coverage that Jennifer was a part of on eating disorders in the college athlete population.
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What You’ll Learn from my Interview with Jennifer Medina
- Why athletes are at risk of developing an eating disorder
- What are the main characteristics that define an athlete
- How the identity of being an athlete can feed into having an eating disorder
- Why it is essential that coaches understand how to handle a player with eating disorder
- How Jennifer overcame her struggle with eating disorders as a student athlete
- How humor helped Jennifer deal with loss and change
Favorite Quote
The eyes only see what the mind is prepared to. -Unknown
Give recovery a try, your misery will be gladly refunded. -Unknown
Get busy living or get busy dying. -Unknown
Favorite Recovery Resource
- Life Without Ed: How One Woman Declared Independence from Her Eating Disorder and How You Can Too by Jenni Schaefer
- The Recovery Warrior Show
- My Autobiography in Five Short Chapter from the book There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk by Portia Nelson
- Eating Disorders Resource Center
More Resources For Athletes
- Mindy Body and Sport: Understanding and Supporting Student-Athlete Mental Wellness (NCAA)
- Mental Health (NCAA)
- Eating Disorders on the College Campus (NEDA)
- Coach and Athletic Trainer Toolkit (NEDA)
Advice to Former Self
It’s okay not to be okay. You are not alone.
Definition of Recovery According to Jennifer Medina
Finding your voice. Recovery is like being in a crowded stadium and you think everyone is cheering for you. The crowd is actually your eating disorder. Eventually the stadium clears so you can hear yourself think clearly.
For Your Journey
- Rise Up + Recover app on Google Play and iTunes
- Music Credit: “Something to Live For” by Mallory Faye
