Eating Disorders & Athletes

Written By Whitney Tawney

Eating disorders are all too common among athletes. In fact, there is a higher incidence of eating disorders among athletes than non-athletes. Currently seventy million people suffer from eating disorders worldwide, 90% of them are between the ages of 12 and 25 , and it’s estimated that 50% or more of those struggling with an eating disorder also struggle with compulsive exercise.

There are many benefits to being physically active- improved energy, better sleep, enhanced mood & longevity. Movement can also reduce anxiety, depression & stress. But what happens when someone has an eating disorder, energy imbalance or trains compulsively? These benefits can quickly go out the window. Training while not eating enough can harm the body & dramatically worsen performance. Which is ironic, given that most athletes have a goal of excelling at their sport.

Eating disorders are complex brain disorders that often serve as coping mechanisms for stressful, difficult or overwhelming emotions or situations. They can disrupt a family, cause isolation, and lead to complex medical issues, some of which can be life threatening and require hospitalization. Those who are diagnosed with an eating disorder have a combination of factors that create the perfect storm for these illnesses to develop. This includes a person’s individual traits such as genetics and psychological makeup; factors such as depression, anxiety or OCD; or personal life experiences including trauma, history of being bullied, and more.

Adolescence is a time where disordered eating behaviors can take off, especially in female athletes, due to significant body changes occurring during this time. If an athlete is used to having a certain body type & is excelling at their sport, and then suddenly their body changes & their performance dips as they adjust to these changes, it’s all too common for for them to try to do whatever it takes to get their former body “back.”

For athletes, there are many reasons why they may be at a higher risk for an eating disorder.

  • Athletes are often hard working, competitive & driven people

  • Perfectionistic, rule following personalities

  • Internal pressure to succeed

  • External pressure to succeed from coaches, teammates, parents, social media

  • Pressure to do “whatever it takes” to make the team or keep spot on current team

  • Participating in a sport that emphasizes smaller bodies

  • Higher energy needs

  • Small uniforms

  • Accepts risks and plays through pain

  • Athletes entering new training environments without effective fueling and recovery strategies

  • Coaches making comments about body size

  • Busy schedules- balancing training + outside commitments

  • High training volume sports

  • Pressures from being on scholarship or getting paid as a pro

  • If being an athlete is their full time job

  • Athletes comparing their body to those of others in similar sports positions

  • Pressure to conform to to certain body standards

  • Believing smaller is better

You CAN’T tell just by looking at someone if they have an eating disorder.

Recognizing the warning signs

  • New interest in health & wellness

  • Sorting foods into good & bad foods

  • Increased focus on body weight & shape

  • Body checking

  • Weight loss

  • Loss of menstrual cycle

  • Obsessive thinking

  • Increased rigidity & lack of spontaneity

  • Lack of variety & flexibility

  • Avoidance of social situations

  • Feeling sluggish & weak at practice

  • Irritability & isolation

  • Choosing food types/amounts based on daily movement

  • Training despite being sick, tired or injured

  • Training despite having a stress fracture

  • Frequent stress fractures

  • Training even at inappropriate times, such as when it’s unsafe or when weather would deter the average person

  • Expressing guilt/shame when not training

  • Training for long durations of time, outside of practice, that interfere with other aspects of daily responsibility

  • Hyperfixation on when the next opportunity for movement will be

Frequent physical activity paired with restrictive eating behaviors can lead to a significant decline in sports performance, increased risk for injury, and even possible hospitalization. A caloric imbalance, whether intentional due to an eating disorder, or unintentional- due to being too busy or having too high of a training load- can cause negative effects among every system of the body.

If you think your child might be struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, it’s important to get help right away. The earlier the intervention, the increase chance of full recovery.

One of the best, most comprehensive & inclusive eating disorder treatment referral sources is the National Alliance For Eating Disorder’s webpage: FindEDHelp.com. There you can search for all levels of care. You can also check out our resource page for athlete specific resources & treatment providers.


Resources:

How to Nourish YourSelf Through an Eating Disorder, Wendy Sterling. MS, RD, CSSD, CEDS-S, Cassey Crosbie, RD, CED-S

Special Considerations for Athletes with Eating Disorders, Disordered Eating, RED-S with Dr. Kathryn Ackerman, MD, MPH, FACSM

Reclaiming Victory: Guiding an Athlete From An Eating Disorder to a New Relationship with Their Sport and Body. Lauren Anton, MS, RD, CEDRD-S, CPT

Whitney Tawney
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