DR. WALLACE: I'm really concerned about the overemphasis placed on high school athletics these days. Personally, I think the athletes are given special treatment by teachers, coaches and administrators. Some of these athletes are treated like royalty. All of this is at the expense of students like me who are short, and uncoordinated. I'm smarter than most of the athletes, but I have to study hard to make good grades. The athletes I know rarely study, but they get top grades. I'm not in favor of eliminating school sports, but I feel that the athletes should spend as much time studying as they spend at sports practice. I know that sports can provide sports scholarships, but for the vast majority of athletes it's just an ego thing.

In my opinion, there is too much emphasis on sports teams in high schools these days. I believe that parents, coaches, and administrators need to remember that sports are classified as "extracurricular" programs, not curricular ones. — Nick, Ames, Iowa.

NICK: You are a very wise young man, and as a former high school basketball coach and high school administrator, I couldn't agree with you more. Schools that place the success of their athletic teams above that of academic excellence are doing their students a grave injustice.

Participation in high school sports, for both boys and girls, is a wonderful experience both physically and mentally for the athletes, and winning helps build campus and community pride. But we should all do our best to see that the school system does its job in providing a quality education for each and every student. Schools owe it to their students to accept them as they are and to take them as far as their intelligence will allow them to go.

ANOREXIA IS A SERIOUS EATING DISORDER

DR. WALLACE: I'm 13 and my mom has told me that a 14-year-old cousin of mine has a disease called anorexia and she says that it is a very serious disease. Our family plans to visit my aunt and uncle this summer and I want to know if I can catch this disease from her.

Please answer my letter as soon as possible because maybe our family should change our plans. — Carla, Mobile, Ala.

CARLA: Anorexia nervosa is not a disease that can be transmitted from person to person. It is an eating disorder and is a form of self-starvation. 90 percent of anorexics are female. It is a very serious affliction and can be fatal. In fact, 10 to 15 percent of anorexics die from being undernourished.

It is extremely difficult for anorexia sufferers to overcome this disorder by themselves. In most cases the help of a therapist who deals with eating disorders is necessary. I would suggest that your parents and you read more about anorexia nervosa so that you can intelligently discuss this eating disorder with your cousin and her family.

EAT SLOWLY AND LOSE WEIGHT

DR. WALLACE: I'm constantly trying to maintain my normal" weight. But it sure is difficult. My mom told me that eating slowly was a good way to lose weight or not to gain weight. She said someone at her work told her this, but they did not know why it works. If it does work, I want to try it because I do tend to gulp my food down. Also, if it works, why does it work? It doesn't seem logical. — Kim, Tupelo, Miss.

KIM: Eating slowly is an effective way to keep off unwanted pounds. When you eat, it takes time for your brain to let your stomach know that you have had sufficient nourishment. Eating slowly gives the brain ample time to notify the stomach that you are well fed. For the gulper, this doesn't happen. The result is simply more food and extra weight.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Casey Hugelfink