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Eating Disorders in the Athletic Community

Hard to See, Easy to Feel

Eating Disorders are hard to see on the outside, and often stay hidden for a lifetime. Female athletes are one of many populations heavily affected by eating disorders. External and internal pressures cause the fine line between self-control and obsession to be often unknowingly crossed.

“You are not a mistake. You are not a problem to be solved. But you won't discover this until you are willing to stop banging your head against the wall of shaming and caging and fearing yourself."

~Geneen Roth

Symptoms of an Eating Disorder

Emotional and Behavioral

  • In general, behaviors and attitudes that indicate that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary concerns
  • Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, carbohydrates, fat grams, and dieting
  • Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food (e.g., no carbohydrates, etc.)
  • Appears uncomfortable eating around others
  • Food rituals (e.g. eats only a particular food or food group [e.g. condiments], excessive chewing, doesn’t allow foods to touch)
  • Skipping meals or taking small portions of food at regular meals
  • Any new practices with food or fad diets, including cutting out entire food groups (no sugar, no carbs, no dairy, vegetarianism/veganism)
  • Withdrawal from usual friends and activities
  • Frequent dieting
  • Extreme concern with body size and shape 
  • Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws in appearance
  • Extreme mood swings

Physical

  • Noticeable fluctuations in weight, both up and down
  • Stomach cramps, other non-specific gastrointestinal complaints (constipation, acid reflux, etc.)
  • Menstrual irregularities — missing periods or only having a period while on hormonal contraceptives (this is not considered a “true” period)
  • Difficulties concentrating
  • Abnormal laboratory findings (anemia, low thyroid and hormone levels, low potassium, low white and red blood cell counts)
  • Dizziness, especially upon standing
  • Fainting/syncope
  • Feeling cold all the time
  • Sleep problems
  • Cuts and calluses across the top of finger joints (a result of inducing vomiting)
  • Dental problems, such as enamel erosion, cavities, and tooth sensitivity
  • Dry skin and hair, and brittle nails
  • Swelling around area of salivary glands
  • Fine hair on body (lanugo)
  • Cavities, or discoloration of teeth, from vomiting
  • Muscle weakness
  • Yellow skin (in context of eating large amounts of carrots)
  • Cold, mottled hands and feet or swelling of feet
  • Poor wound healing
  • Impaired immune functioning

Warning Signs Your Athlete has an Eating Disorder

Resources

https://www.insider.com/division-1-female-athletes-plagued-with-eating-disorders-missing-periods-2019-11

Conviser, J, Tierney, A, Nickols, R. 

Assessment of Athletes Wtih Eating Disorders: Essentials for Best Practice

Journal  of Clinical Sport Psychology; Vol. 12 Iss. 4: 480-494.

Joy E, Kussman A, Nattiv A

2016 update on eating disorders in athletes: A comprehensive narrative review with a focus on clinical assessment and management

British Journal of Sports Medicine 2016;50:154-162.

Megan. “The Warning Signs of Eating Disorders in Athletes (and How to Offer Support).” - Redefining What It Means to Be a Female Distance Runner, 8 July 2018, www.strongrunnerchicks.com/warning-signs-eating-disorders-athletes-offer-support/.

“Warning Signs and Symptoms.” National Eating Disorders Association, 6 Feb. 2020,             www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/warning-signs-and-symptoms.


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