NUTRITION

A growing issue in the athletic community

Eating disorders affect at least 9% of the world’s population. This is influenced by societal pressures on both women and men to look a certain way – something which has gotten worse with the advent of social media and is exacerbated by stress and anxiety. Recent research also indicates that the prevalence of disordered eating (DE) is higher among athletes than the general population, and the number affected is increasing.

Whilst there is a higher prevalence of eating disorders among females, males are certainly not immune, and it can occur in any sport, any level of competitiveness and at any age. However, it is more common to see DE occur in weight-dependent sports, for example lightweight rowing, where athletes must be below a certain weight to compete.

“Pressures placed on a vulnerable athlete combined with their will to succeed can easily trigger disordered eating.”

In fact, a wealth of research now shows that more than 40 percent of women engaged in aesthetic sports to a professional level, like dance and gymnastics, show signs of eating disorders. Similar figures apply to endurance sports like running and rowing, where a lower body weight is often an advantage. However, shame, stigma, and fear of discrimination frequently prevent athletes from disclosing problematic behaviours and seeking help. Many affected athletes are secretive or in denial about their DE, so it is often much harder to recognise and treat.