Eating disorders and student athletes: How to recognize and how to help

It is estimated that 60% of female athletes struggle with having a healthy relationship with food along with over 30% of male athletes. Often athletes believe they should not ask for help because they should “be tough” and power through their injuries and want to continue competing. Many of these athletes do not get help because of fear, shame, and worry of being told they have to gain weight or to change their eating patterns that could inhibit their athletic performance.

In my experience as a sports dietitian I have worked with athletes and their families to understand why they are fearful of seeking help. Often, it is the fear of not being able to compete, gaining weight, losing their “appearance”, or even shame of the label “eating disorder.”

Oftentimes, these athletes just do not know what they do not know and they do not realize the true consequences of letting the eating disorder play out and saying, “I will get help after the season ends.”

Eating disorders are a mortality risk and often the highest cause of death if left untreated. Common eating disorders include bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, avoidant restrictive food intake, and anorexia nervosa, according to the National Institute of Health. Each of these disorders is commonly associated with overlapping symptoms. Eating disorders are more than food. Click here to learn more about each eating disorder.

Athletes are most at risk

Female athletes who overtrain may experience relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). This occurs when a person doesn’t consume enough calories to provide the energy needed for their exercise levels.

RED-S can result in:

Signs of an eating disorder in an athlete:

How to help an athlete with disordered eating:

I encourage ALL parents, coaches, and teammates to take the focus off of weight and body shape. Create a positive environment for athletes to love the skin they are in without shame or fear. Athlete’s bodies are amazing! Especially female athletes who can run, jump, sprint, change directions quickly, birth babies and incredibly impressive resilience!

Blogs we provide that may be helpful for you and the female athlete:

If you suspect an athlete has an eating disorder try to remember that eating disorders are not something one can just “get over.” Eating disorders are not a choice but often a result of trauma, coping mechanisms for unresolved stress, a desire to be in control of something in an out of control world, and/or other mental health challenges. It’s not someone being vain. An eating disorder involves complex neurological, genetic, and personality traits that are still being studied and not fully well understood. Approach each athlete with compassion, understanding, and support versus criticism or judgment.

Encourage and empower the athlete that you care about to seek help and that the sport will always be there, but if they don’t consider their health they won’t. Express how much you appreciate the athlete as a person first and that their identity is not found in their sport or performance but in Jesus Christ! Kindly let them know, ‘I’m worried about you, not because I think you’re going to not do well in your next game, race, match but because I actually care about you as a person. You don’t seem like your usually happy healthy self and I wanted to check in with you because that is what friends and teammates do! I care about you, and I want you to stay well enough to do the things that you love, whatever they may be.’

My team and I work with a variety of male and female athletes that have struggled with food. In our coaching sessions, education, and support we have helped many overcome their disordered eating and build a healthy relationship with food. This is not something that happens in a few months, but a few years, and with consistency and a safe place people can heal from an eating disorder with the right resources.

We have referred out some individuals in our screening process that needed inpatient or just simply more support than what we could provide. It is important to find a dietitian that can hear your concerns as a parent, coach, or guardian and also connect with the athlete or individual that needs help. We work with many types of athletes, including XC, track, dance, gymnastics, wrestling, swimming, soccer and lacrosse athletes.

I am very grateful to share that we at Nutrition with Wendi recently hired a highly experienced registered dietitian who has a great deal of experience with athletes and individuals who struggle with disordered eating. Meet our team here and our newest RD, Madison Wyatt!

Resources:

Schedule a free discovery call with a NWW Coach who can help direct you or your athlete on getting well.