Eating Disorders in Athletes | Risk Factors and What to Do About It

Let’s talk about why this disorder is so prevalent in athletes of ALL sports  

In the world of sport, there continues to be a disillusion that eating disorders in athletes only affect those who compete in weight category sports, such as boxing, rowing, judo, and weightlifting, or sports that emphasize figure such as dance, figure skating, and gymnastics. However, this continues to perpetuate the stereotype that eating disorders are only an illness related to body dissatisfaction and weight.  

While weight and pressure around body size can have an impact for sure, it is important to know that eating disorders are complex and severe psychiatric disorders. Thanks to functional MRIs and advances in neuroscience, we have improved our understanding of the brain and how the brain functions within an eating disorder.  

We know that eating disorders are multifactorial. There is a genetic component, there is a brain structure component, and an environmental component. There is no one thing that “caused” an eating disorder. So no, just being involved in sport will not cause an eating disorder, but it may contribute to the risk of development in some cases.  

Eating disorders are complex psychiatric illnesses that require a bit of a perfect storm to present. Unfortunately, athletes in all sports are subject to several of the conditions that can lead to the development of an eating disorder (ED). The research estimates that 1-in-5 athletes are at risk of developing an eating disorder.

Key Takeaways

• Eating disorders can affect athletes in any sport, not just those focused on weight or appearance
• They are complex mental health conditions influenced by biological, psychological, and environmental factors
• Athletes may be at higher risk due to traits like perfectionism, performance pressure, and identity tied to sport
• Disordered eating is often about more than food, including challenges with emotions and self-esteem
• Creating supportive environments that focus on performance, inclusivity, and open communication can help reduce risk

Athletes and Eating Disorder Risk Factors to Consider 

Athletes tend to be goal driven and highly motivated individuals, some to the extent of struggling with perfectionism. This can help make them successful and can lead to prioritizing improvement and success in their sport over their own wellbeing, increasing the risk of disordered eating in sports. 

Sport can breed a hyperfocus on the body and  impact body image in athletes. There can be a perception of what the athlete is “supposed” to look like regardless of performance  

There can also be pressure on nutrition for performance where the athlete feels that they must eat in a certain way to align with their identity as an athlete.  

Even though every athlete, in every sport, will have “off” days there can be pressure to perform well day in and day out. If an individual struggles with their identity outside of who they are as an athlete, their self-esteem may be significantly impacted by these “off” days. 

In many sports, showing emotion may not be encouraged as it can impact perception of readiness. However, this can accidentally become a pattern of emotional avoidance and eventually, emotional intolerance.  

And then of course, there are physiological changes associated with disordered eating patterns that can lead to the development of an eating disorder.  

This is all to say, the body and nutrition may only be one small piece of the puzzle. Every individual who struggles with an ED will have a unique experience and we need to be aware and paying attention to our athletes’ nutrition related behaviours because they are at a higher risk than most of developing an ED. 

So, What Can We Do?  

To help combat the rise of eating disorders in athletes, here are some suggestions:

• As coaches, parents, fans, and teammates, we can make sure that we are expressing inclusive attitudes about body shapes and sizes within sport.
• We can support adequate nutrition for performance instead of for a look.
• We can provide space for individuals to express their emotions, positive and negative. We can support athletes through the normal ups and downs that come with sport and help them build resiliency to ride the wave of emotions that comes along with this.
• We can be mindful of the language we use, avoiding comments about weight or appearance and instead focusing on effort, performance, and overall wellbeing.
• We can also be aware of early warning signs such as changes in eating patterns, mood, energy levels, or increased rigidity around food and training.

• And overall, we can change the way that we talk about bodies, beauty, appearance and performance for everyone, not just athletes. Here are some recommendations for coaches, parents, and role models to consider. 

If you are struggling to fuel yourself for your sport or are struggling with disordered eating as an athlete, please reach out for support. A registered dietitian who specializes in this area can be of help.    

Change is possible. Achieve food freedom, peace of mind, and eating disorder recovery with the help of our eating disorder nutritionists.

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