Types of Eating Disorders that Athletes Experience
Athletes commonly develop increased resilience as a result of their sport experiences. Some believe that athletes are immune to mental illness as a result. However, athletes also endure a unique set of pressures which often leave athletes vulnerable to a range of eating disorders.
When people think of eating disorders, they often include anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Binge eating disorder is a newer diagnosis which has developed increased awareness over the past several years. Orthorexia is quite common but less frequently discussed. In fact, many people praise orthorexic tendencies as they fall under the guise of “clean eating.”
These eating disorders can, of course, affect athletic performance in addition to having serious physical and mental health ramifications. Anorexia is the second leading cause of death among psychiatric illnesses, second only to opioid abuse.
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. Endurance sports, aesthetic sports, and anti-gravity sports emphasize leanness which may compel athletes to lose weight in order to improve performance or achieve a sport body ideal. Anorexia nervosa, commonly known as anorexia, can lead to significant weight loss and malnutrition which may cause very serious medical problems.
Important to note, there is a sub-classification of this illness called “Atypical Anorexia.” This diagnosis applies to individuals who experience the psychological symptoms of anorexia but are weight suppressed and appear healthy. Athletes with atypical anorexia tend to be more medically compromised once their eating disorder is diagnosed.
Bulimia nervosa is commonly referred to as bulimia, and most people associate bulimia with purging after eating. Bulimia nervosa includes cycles of binge eating and purging behaviors. Purging behaviors vary and may include vomiting but also extend to excessive exercise. Weight-cycling sports – such as wrestling, boxing, rowing – increase the risk of developing bulimia nervosa. The purging behaviors, specifically vomiting, may lead to life-threatening electrolyte imbalances and cardiac abnormalities.
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 accompanies these episodes. And, unlike bulimia, those with binge eating disorder do not engage in any purging behaviors. While binge eating disorder does not have any known medical complications, the psychological impact of this illness is significant.
To note, many power-to-weight and strength-to-weight athletes struggle with this illness. A common pattern for athletes is to restrict all day while going about training and then engage in bingeing in the evening once their hunger cues set in. Shame and discomfort reset the pattern of behaviors the following day.
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 falls under the diagnostic category of OSFED (other specified feeding or eating disorder). While not directly striving for weight-loss with these behaviors, many athletes tend to “fall” into anorexia as a result of the restrictive nutritional patterns involved in orthorexia.
Each and every one of the above diagnoses warrants both medical and psychological attention. Some athletes believe that they are not “sick enough” to seek care; however, eating disorders have serious psychological and medical implications. All athletes, regardless of their weight or behaviors, deserve early intervention and adequate care.
If you or a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, reach out to Athlete Insight to schedule a complimentary discovery call today.