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What does imbalanced health look like?听听

A young person with imbalanced health:听听

• has prolonged tiredness and fatigue听
• often gets inadequate sleep (less than 8 hours)听
• may have irritability or mood changes听
• has an irregular or absent menstrual cycle听
• has recurring injuries or illness听
• doesn鈥檛 make time for physical activity, hobbies or social connection听听

Who is at risk of imbalanced health?听听

Young people at risk of imbalanced health are often individuals who:听

• are involved in early specialisation - usually in one sport. There is greater risk in activities with an aesthetic or weight restricted focus e.g., gymnastics, ballet.听
• participate in multiple sports and activities, with over-scheduling of commitments.听
• have multiple life stressors e.g., physical activity demands, family stress, academic pressure, relationship conflict.听
• exhibit perfectionist tendencies. They tend to be high achievers in multiple areas of life.听
• move to higher level programs or training groups. The number of hours and intensity often increase.听
• have previous injuries (especially bone stress injury) and recurrent illnesses e.g., coughs and colds.听
• have engaged in disordered eating practices such as restricted eating, avoiding food groups, reward eating.听
• demonstrate disordered training practices e.g., over-training, skipping rest days or signs of exercise addiction.听

How to assess balanced health 听

As coaches, instructors, or parents you can ask these questions to assess overall balance and better understand a young person鈥檚 health and wellbeing.听

Training

• Are they enjoying participating in their sport or physical activity?
• Are they motivated to attend and / or compete?
• Is their activity balanced and are all elements covered? i.e., strength, core, fitness, fun.

Nutrition

• How are they eating to support their physical activity?
• Do they avoid meals or specific food groups?
• Do they have energy throughout training and games?
• Can they recover between activities?

Menstrual Cycle

• Are they experiencing regular menstrual cycles?
• Are they taking a hormonal contraception which may mask issues of the menstrual cycle?

Sleep

• Are they getting 8+ hours of sleep per night?
• Do they feel fatigued or not recovered?
• Do they have at least one rest day per week?

Support

• Do they have a good support network?
• Do they have a trusted adult who they can talk to if needed?

Social Connection

• Are they connecting with friends and social groups?
• Are they feeling any pressures around participating in sport or other physical activitiese.g., body image, playing with friends, loss of fun?

Injury / Illness

• Have they been regularly injured or unwell?
• Is there a history of bone injury e.g., shin splints, stress reaction or stress fracture?
• Do they have a prolonged injury affecting participation and / or wellbeing?

Other Interests

• Are they engaging in social activities and down time away from sport or physical activity?
• Do they come back motivated and engaged?