Are Athletes More Likely to Have an Eating Disorder?

Sports are an excellent way for kids to enhance motor skills, make friendships, and learn a healthy sense of competition. Most children are in some level of sports when they are younger, but there are a select few that choose to continue to play at more competitive levels; high school, college, and for some even at the professional level. Sports often provide opportunities that kids may not normally receive, but could playing sports at a competitive level also make them more susceptible for struggling with disordered eating?

According to the National Eating Disorder Association, in a study of Division 1 NCAA athletes, over one-third of female athletes reported attitudes and symptoms related to food and their bodies that placed them at risk for anorexia nervosa. A 2004 Norwegian study on the link between athletes and eating disorders also concluded athletes are nearly three times more likely to have an eating disorder than the average person. The study found 14% of the 1,620 athletes evaluated had an eating disorder, compared with 5% of the general population. These statistics still hold true today. In addition to society’s standards to be thin, the pressure to win and the emphasis on body weight, body shape, and athletic performance can create severe psychological and physical stress. This combination of athletic and societal pressures can be the perfect storm for disordered eating habits to form. While some athletes will never struggle with disordered eating habits, some athletes can be diagnosed with full-blown eating disorders.

So what makes some athletes more susceptible to this mental illness over others? There is often a genetic predisposition for someone to have an eating disorder, but besides genetic factors there are a multitude of other factors that come into play. Here are a few things you can look out for if an athlete in your life could be at a greater risk:

  • If the athlete plays a sport that requires emphasis on physical appearance, weight requirements, or muscularity (this could include gymnastics, diving, bodybuilding, dance, cheerleading, volleyball, or wrestling)

  • Sports that focus on the individual rather than the entire team (e.g. gymnastics, running, figure skating, dance, or diving).

  • Endurance sports such as track and field, running, or swimming

  • The more elite the level of play or performance, the greater chance of disordered eating

  • Perfectionist tendencies/ Type A personalities

  • Other risk factors include low self-esteem; family dysfunction, families with eating disorders; chronic dieting; history of physical or sexual abuse; peer, family, and cultural pressures to be thin, and other traumatic life experiences

If you know someone that falls under any of these factors, it is important to know the red flags we might see in those athletes. If you are a friend, coach, trainer, or teammate here are a few typical signs to watch for:

  • Eating too little, exercising or training too hard (working out outside of mandatory practices)

  • Increased focus on weight, shape, size, and appearance

  • Weighing his or herself regularly or multiple times a day; underweight or notable weight loss

  • Stress fractures and overuse injuries

If you notice any of these issues, the best thing to do is calmly and gently tell that person about your concerns, or if that feels too uncomfortable, you can talk with someone that has a closer relationship who is willing to help facilitate that conversation. From there, that athlete and their coach, trainer, and/or parents can come up with a plan for treatment. This treatment plan usually consists of a therapist, doctor, and dietitian.

At Focus Integrative Centers we provide counseling and nutrition services to all people, including athletes struggling with disordered eating. Our providers can help guide and direct your loved one back to a healthy athletic lifestyle. If you have questions or would like to set up an appointment with one of our nutritionists or therapists, please call 865-622-7116 or click here to learn more about our services and programs

Contributed by Kaitlyn Tucker, MS, RDN, LDN, Registered Dietitian with Focus Integrative Centers, Knoxville

References:

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14712163/

 

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