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Athletes in Trouble: Eating Disorders in Sports

The number of athletes with eating disorders is higher than some people may realize. Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervous and reverse anorexia, can affect both female and male athletes of all ages. Athletes feel pressure to be at the top of their games. In order to stay competitive, some turn to unhealthy eating habits and excessive exercise.

Sports Most Affected by Eating Disorders
Some sports place a stronger emphasis on appearance and size than others. Athletes in these sports have a greater susceptibility to eating disorders, since a specific weight, size or look can give them a competitive edge.

Athletes with eating disorders tend to compete in one of the following sports:

• ballet/dance
• body building
• figure skating
• gymnastics
• horse racing
• rowing
• running
• swimming
• wrestling.

Developing Eating Disorders Due to Sports
Although both sexes can be affected by eating disorders, the number of female athletes with eating disorders is higher than the number of male athletes with eating disorders. In fact, almost 1/3 of all female athletes will develop an eating disorder.

Athletes do not plan to develop an eating disorder. Unfortunately, what starts out as a legitimate fitness regime can lead to an eating disorder. To stay competitive in their sports, athletes begin to push their workouts harder. Some mistakenly believe that by increasing their exercise and decreasing their food intake, they will more effectively fine-tune their muscles, their performances, and their appearances.

In reality, eating disorders do not improve performance in sports. Instead the consequences of eating disorders can hurt athletes and their performances. Common problems for athletes associated with diminished food intake include:

• fatigue
• loss of strength
• muscle wasting
• poor performance
• stress fractures.

Distinguishing Eating Disorders from Normal Sports Training
Initially it may be difficult to determine if athletes have an eating disorder or if they are merely training for their sports. With intense exercise regimes and routines, such as increasing their intake of carbohydrates before a game, athletes as a whole exhibit traits that can be mistaken for eating disorders. Many athletes with eating disorders use this as an excuse and blame their behaviors on training for their sports.

There are, however, signs of eating disorders beyond sports training, which include:

• Drastic changes in eating habits: This can include skipping meals, having extreme changes in usual portion sizes, developing ritualistic eating habits, no longer eat in public or with others and needing to use the bathroom immediately following meals (which may indicate that the athlete is vomiting food that has just been consumed).
  
  
• Noticeable changes in physical appearance: This may include noticeable weight fluctuations in short periods, swollen cheeks, bloodshot eyes, brittle hair and nails, irregular or nonexistent menstrual cycles, perpetual sore throats, intestinal problems, increased fatigue and always being cold.
  
  
• Unhealthy body image concerns: This can include a preoccupation with food and weight, increased criticism of own body and an obsession over clothes sizes.
  
  
• Change in behavior: This may include compulsively exercising beyond normal training, using laxatives, becoming argumentative and irrational and having difficulty concentrating.

How Others Can Help Athletes with Eating Disorders
If you suspect that an athlete on your sports team or a family member has an eating disorder related to sports, you need to deal with the issue sooner rather than later. The longer treatment is delayed, the more damage an athlete may do to his/her body.

Here are some steps you can take to assist an athlete with an eating disorder:

• Address your suspicions, but do not be confrontational.
• Do not focus on food or physical appearance; these are symptoms, not the actual problem.
• Explain that the eating disorder is affecting his/her performance in sports.
• Do not place blame or get into an argument about whether or not an eating disorder exists.
• Schedule an appointment for the athlete to get a physical.
• Be supportive and provide information regarding treatment.
• Remember that many athletes will deny that they have an eating disorder and will blame their behavior on training for their sport. It is up to you, as a coach or family member, to not back down until either the athlete seeks help or you can be sure he or she does not actually have an eating disorder.