Athletes and Eating Disorders
As we watch sports games from the comfort of our homes, we are often amazed by athletic competition. The athletes portrayed on TV are performing at such a high level, so we assume that their health must be in top shape. In reality, most athletes work extremely hard to be fit and healthy. Sometimes, the desire to be healthy can become an unhealthy obsession. Why is this so?
Firstly, the athlete’s relationship with sports is complex.
There are many reasons an individual will choose to become an athlete. Sometimes, they have always loved sports ever since they were a child. Perhaps they received a scholarship to college which required that they join a sports team. In other cases, their parents may have pushed them to pursue this career.
Regardless of the individual’s initial motivation, becoming an athlete takes work and dedication. After putting in this great financial and personal investment, it is extremely difficult to change careers. What may have appeared to be an exciting career can end up being unenjoyable and monotonous. Additionally, being an athlete comes with extreme social pressure to outperform competitors. While the athlete may love sports, they may not enjoy everything that comes with it.
Second, misconceptions spread easily.
Many athletes have a registered dietitian on their staff to help them optimize their health and perfect their performance. However, health misinformation still spreads fast in a myriad of ways. For example, social media may cause athletes to believe they need to work hard to lose weight, gain more muscle, or achieve a lower heart rate. In reality, research studies have proven that it is rare for an athlete’s resting heart rate to fall below 50.
Furthermore, financial strains and pressure from coaches can force athletes to continue training through injuries. This is very concerning behavior, as it has the potential to develop into an eating disorder.
Lastly, perfectionism is common but dangerous.
Many athletes are perfectionists; they refuse to accept any standard short of perfection. They also refuse to be curious out of fear that they may fail in their attempts. Perfectionists often experience difficulty in acknowledging their efforts and celebrating their accomplishments. They lack self-compassion, and they are not satisfied with their achievements. They strive to improve their performance by creating unrealistic goals for themselves. The perfectionist’s behavior is dangerous and can set the stage for eating disorder development.
So what does eating disorders have to do with athletes?
Having all of these ideas in mind, we can begin to understand what thoughts are flowing through an athlete’s brain. Believing that they are not good enough in appearance and performance is common. Being constantly portrayed in the media can be damaging to one’s mental and physical health. While some of us may assume that athletes are in perfect health effortlessly, that is not the reality. Athletes are human just like everyone else and are equally deserving of help.
Sources:
Nickols, Riley. “Athletes and Eating Disorders: Clinical Themes in the Treatment of Athletes.” YouTube, uploaded by BALANCE Eating Disorder Treatment Center, 22 April 2021, https://youtu.be/5cUXVUimfhs