Athletes and Eating Disorders

Competitive sports bring a unique set of pressures.  These pressures often times leave athletes vulnerable to a range of common – and less common - eating disorders.

The more common disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and orthorexia.

These eating disorders can, of course, affect athletic performance and overall physical and mental health.

Anorexia nervosa has the following primary characteristics: extreme food restriction, an irrationally intense fear of gaining weight, and a distortion of one’s body image. Certain sports – such as long-distance running and gymnastics - emphasize leanness and athletes may feel compelled to lose weight in order to improve performance or achieve a particular “look”. Anorexia nervosa, commonly known as anorexia, can lead to significant weight loss and malnutrition. It can lead to dangerous health consequences such as brittle bones, problems with one’s heart, and menstruation issues.

Bulimia nervosa is commonly referred to as bulimia, and most people associate bulimia with vomiting after eating. That’s only one potential practice. Bulimia nervosa may also include cycles of binge eating (followed by purging behaviors), excessive exercise, and a dependency on laxatives. Certain sports involve an athlete to ‘make weight’ – such as wrestling, boxing, rowing – and this can increase the risk of developing bulimia nervosa. In addition to the overall strain this disorder places on the body, it can also lead to electrolyte imbalances, gastrointestinal problems, and tooth decay from repeated vomiting

Binge eating disorder may not be as top of mind as anorexia and bulimia, yet it is also a serious eating disorder. It is characterized by periodic episodes of consuming large quantities of food in a short period of time. A sense of guilt and lack of control oftentimes accompany these episodes. And, unlike bulimia, those with binge eating disorder do not engage in any purging behaviors. Physically speaking, binge eating can lead to weight gain and associated health risks associated weight gain such as heart disease and diabetes.

Orthorexia is a lesser-known but increasingly common eating disorder in athletes. It is best described as having an unhealthy obsession with eating only “clean” or “pure” foods, often to the detriment of overall nutrition and well-being. Orthorexia is not officially recognized as a clinical diagnosis.

Sala Psychology is based in Greenwich, Connecticut. Specialties include therapy for anxiety disorders, depression, behavioral weight loss issues, and couples therapy