Proposal aims to help high school coaches prevent eating disorders among students

Karen Krygier’s lifelong struggle with eating disorders began at age nine, as she was trying to attain the “ideal image” of a figure skater body. But one call to her parents six years later from a school nurse, who saw the signs, helped her immensely.

“I praise this angel now but disdained her at that time,” she wrote in support of a bill that could help more young athletes. “The reason this legislation would make a difference is because it only takes one caring adult to have a tremendous impact on a young person’s life.”

“This legislation” is HF3660, laid over Wednesday by the House Education Policy Committee for possible inclusion in a larger bill.

Sponsored by Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove), it aims to teach high school coaches about eating disorder prevention, and the nature and risks of eating disorders.

With awareness and education, it is hoped coaches spot eating disorders in their student athletes before they become a problem.

Rep. Kristin Robbins

Developed specifically for coaches, the training could include identifying the risk factors, mitigation strategies, effects, and the risks of undiagnosed and untreated eating disorders.

It could help teenagers like Kayla Murphy who was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa in 2015 at the age of 15.

“There are things that I feel with awareness and education, Kayla’s teachers and coaches could have helped spot … before Kayla’s eating disorder became so strong,” wrote her mother, Angie.

Representing the Minnesota State High School League, Roger Aronson said the organization is responsible for the ongoing education of coaches and maintains a three-year coaching education requirement.

“We are always looking for things to add in to that particular list,” he said.

Dr. Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, a professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health’s Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, wrote that adult role models have a significant influence over a young person's environment.

“During the pre-teen and teenage years of physical and emotional development, which is when we often see eating disorders starting to develop, a coach can have an important influence over a young person’s body image and eating behaviors.”