Why Athletes are at Higher Risk for Developing an Eating Disorder
The connection between athletics and eating disorders…
Participating in athletics, whether competitively or not, comes along with many benefits. Athletics lead to accomplishments, a sense of purpose, something to work towards, motivation, and many others other positive outcomes. Athletics can also put individuals at a greater risk for developing an eating disorder. A recent study conducted amongst female, Division 1 athletes found that one-third showed symptoms or thoughts related to eating disorder behavior.
Some sports put individuals at an even higher risk for developing an eating disorder when there is additional emphasis placed on weight, size, or the contributions that they have towards performance.
So what are the risk factors for athletes and eating disorders?
Belief that body weight affects performance… and in some cases, it does - if you participate in a sport that correlates body weight and performance you may be at greater risk for developing an eating disorder. This mentality takes away from an individual's ability to correlate food and hunger. It is not uncommon that athletes move away from satiating themselves when they are hungry. Rather their relationship with food is closely connected to their athletic endeavors which in turn minimizes the intuitive intelligence of mind and body.
Sports that put emphasis on appearance or body weight - if you are active in a sport that puts high regard on how you look (such as gymnastics, diving, dance, wrestling), it is likely you are at higher risk for developing an eating disorder. There are many reasons why this is. One of which is the importance associated with how you look. Another is the community and language you may be immersed in by being an active member in the community. After all, “we are who we surround ourselves with.”
Social emphasis on thinness or fatphobia - we live in a society that places an emphasis on the desire to be thin. Athlete or not, this is a belief that fuels eating disorders by instilling the idea that thinness is a goal rather than an attribute someone either has or does not have
High pressure and stressful environment - oftentimes stress alone can lead to eating disorder habits. This is due to the strain stress has one your body and the subsequent strain that stress has on your appetite. An eating disorder can give someone something to have control over when they feel as though the things in their life are out of their control
Past experiences - this is one that rarely gets touched on but in my practice I see very often. To best explain it I will lay it out in an example. Let’s say you have been teased throughout your life for being in a larger body. As a result you begin eating less, exercising more, and doing both from a place that is reactive to the way your body has been treated all of your life. When you adopt these behaviors, you lose weight, and people begin commenting on how great you look, how thin you are, and everything in between. Many individuals go through this same experience. When the compliments begin flooding in they feel like they have finally succeeded in their dieting goals. Now they have a mental association of larger body = insults / thinner body = compliments. This is how an eating disorder develops! An individual adopts self destructive habits such as over exercising and under-eating and they now have a belief about themselves that in order to be loved, I need to be thin. As I stated, I see many clients with this same story. Although after many months or years, they feel broken, empty, and exhausted. They come to an understanding that the external body they have worked so hard for has given them nothing but destructive thoughts and beliefs about themselves.
Restrict-binge-cycle - athletes involved in high intensity training are incredibly prone to the binge-restrict cycle. Why is this? Because athletes burn so much energy they have a higher caloric intake needed to partake in their sport. Therefore they can develop a binge-restrict relationship with food that translates to days when they are not burning additional energy. Athletes often compare their relationship with food to that of non-athletes, which puts them at higher risk for not listening to what their body needs and utilizing their mind to justify what an appropriate amount of food is. The truth is, athletes need more food, and each body is different. Comparison to others is a fruitless game and the secret is listening to your body regarding what it needs and when it needs it
What if I am an athlete with an eating disorder but I do not want to give up my sport?
That is okay. For many individuals who have developed an eating disorder and want to continue with their athletic endeavors recovery can be more complicated but that does not mean it is not possible. One of the main goals of eating disorder treatment is redefining your relationship with food and with your body. If you are wanting to continue with your sport, this might mean one of several things.
Resetting the expectations you have for yourself and your body
Letting go of certain habits and beliefs about yourself and about food
Having real, and oftentimes hard conversations with your teammates and coaches
Setting new boundaries
Implementing new and healthy habits into your routine and training plans
Most importantly, when you come to therapy it is important to understand that your therapist will meet you where you are at. What this means is that unless you are at higher risk and additional support is needed, your therapist will work collaboratively with you to determine what your goals are with your sport, your relationship with your body, and how the two of you can work together to heal any disordered eating. ***I emphasize the importance of finding a therapist that feels like a good fit for you. Additionally, it is likely that overtime and with the right therapist, the goals you have set for yourself will evolve.
That sounds scary, why would I want to do that?
There is freedom on the other side of your thoughts. Do you wake up everyday thinking about food? Do you find yourself obsessing about when your next meal will come? You do not have to live your life that way. That does not mean you have to give up your support. It means that seeking the support of a professional can help you navigate the challenging and oftentimes, overlooked relationship between sports, food, and your body.
Reach out for support with eating disorder therapy
If you are interested in seeking support I would love to work with you towards reaching your goals and redefining the relationship that you have with your body. If you are interested in learning more about how I work with body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating through eating disorder treatment or how I utilize online therapy I encourage you to read more.
If you are interested in setting up a free 20 minute consultation please reach out!
-Ellie