Eating Disorder Awareness in Athletes

Have you ever heard or made statements such as

“That’s a lot of food, are you going to eat all of that?”

“Have you lost weight? You look great!”

“Are you eating? You are skin and bones”

Before making assumptions and judgements, have you ever considered the following?

• Maybe that person needs to eat more to meet his/her weight or performance goals

• One meal or plate does not define a person’s habits, health, or wellness

• Maybe that person is in eating disorder recovery, and they are working on their relationship with food

• Maybe that person did not lose weight but instead has a new haircut. However, now that you commented on their weight, they feel they should lose weight to improve their appearance

• Maybe that person was recently diagnosed with a medical condition (e.g., Crohn’s disease, hyperthyroidism) or has undergone recent trauma, grief, or loss

• Maybe that person has a fear of gaining weight

• Maybe that person has made peace with their body and with food, and they are intuitively fueling their body

Making comments about what a person is eating or about their weight, even if joking, could be extremely damaging. It has the potential to create a negative relationship with certain foods that may lead to disordered eating, or trigger someone with an eating disorder or negative body image. Eating disorders and body dysmorphia (distorted body image) are prevalent in both male and female athletes including all sports, shapes, sizes, races, ethnicities, personalities, cultures, and any socioeconomic status.

Eating disorders, disordered eating, and body dysmorphia can stem from a number of scenarios - many of which are rooted in mental and behavioral health. These include but are not limited to:

• Being highly motivated

• Being committed to excellence

• Being goal-orientated

• Competing at a high level

• Having perfectionist tendencies

• Diagnosed or undiagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder

• Competing for a position, playing time, or for a scholarship

• Comparing oneself to others

• Social or cultural influence (e.g., social media, teammates, coaches, or family)

This can put a lot of pressure on an athlete and create a perfect storm to result in an eating disorder. It is important to emphasize nutrition and body composition are not the determinant of performance. Nutrition should be considered along with proper sleep, stress management, recovery, and mental health as all equally important in an athlete’s health, wellness, and longevity both in sport and in life.

When educating athletes on how to fuel appropriately for performance, it is all too easy to inadvertently demonize certain foods and project labeling options as “good” and “bad.” To further complicate these messages, just a few seconds on a Google search or social media can result in mixed messaging from influencers and experts - often self-proclaimed advocates for products or diet trends from their own experience or paid endorsements. 

Let’s take some time to acknowledge food and nutritional science, exercise physiology, and the need for education. On the other hand, let’s appreciate the more holistic side of health, wellness, and performance - and support each other individually and without judgement.