Dying to Win: A Troubling Trend of Eating Disorders in College Athletes

By Taylor Smith

Fall 2023

Most likely, if you’re an athlete, and especially a college athlete, you know someone who has struggled with an eating disorder. Sophie Stevens, Junior soccer player at Grand Valley State, highlights a harsh reality for many college athletes: “I always wanted to fit the stereotypical college athlete body. I knew that when playing a sport, people know who you are, they watch you play, you get talked about, etc. I wanted everyone to see me as the thin girl who played soccer.” College athletics can enhance your college experience, but we don’t often talk about the potential side effects of this demanding system. I have been playing sports and involved in the sports community for over 16 years. One of the most important things I have learned from my time in athletics is that we need to be talking about the pressure athletes are under to look like “the ideal athlete,” something I learned the hard way. I have played soccer my whole life and I used to associate the idea of being skinny to being fast. As I got older, this resulted in me trying to make myself as small as possible so I would be faster for my sport. This caused a large problem with my eating habits and mental health, things I am still working through to this day.

Growing up, my athletic role model was Serena Williams. I looked up to her not only because of her athletic success but also her boldness and resilience. The key to this is that my role model had nothing to do with looks or how “great” her body looked. I still admire her because of what she has done athletically and how she has changed sports for women. Serena Williams has overcome hate and negative publicity about her body, race, and gender throughout her career. She showed me and countless others that it is possible to overcome negative thoughts and attention. According to Time Magazine, Serena Williams said, “It isn’t always easy to be on the stage playing a tournament and have someone make a comment about your body, that it’s too strong.”’ Serena shows us that constantly having your body picked apart is not easy on an athlete's mental health.

Eating Disorders: Definitions and Descriptions

Eating disorders are a group of related conditions that cause serious emotional and physical problems. They involve a behavioral condition that is characterized by severe disturbances in eating behaviors because of distressing thoughts or emotions regarding food. Eating disorders can affect individuals of any gender or age, but eating disorders are more predominant in young women. The most common types of eating disorders are:

  • Anorexia Nervosa consists of, but is not limited to, dramatic weight loss, preoccupation with weight, food, calories, and frequent comments about feeling “fat.”

  • Bulimia Nervosa is typically a cycle of intense overeating (bingeing) followed by self-induced vomiting (purging) or the use of laxatives.

  • Binge Eating Disorder is when you frequently consume very large amounts of food and feel unable to stop eating.

According to research by Marie Galmiche (2019), the prevalence of eating disorders in 2000-2006 was 3.5% of the American population; this number has increased to 7.8% during 2013-2018. This is an alarming statistic because within a 7-year period the prevalence of reported eating disorders has more than doubled. This study did not include the impact COVID-19 had on our mental and physical wellbeing. COVID-19 was a time of isolation and a period of uncertainty. A New York Times article highlights that the pandemic has created hurdles for those managing difficult relationships with food. Eating disorders thrive in isolation so this long time away from family and friends heightened these struggles.

Symptoms of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders encompass a range of serious mental health conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits, often accompanied by distressing thoughts and emotions. This section is not meant to self-diagnose, so if you think you might have an eating disorder please reach out to your doctor or one of the resources listed in the next section.

  • Anorexia Nervosa symptoms are as follows: an intense fear of gaining weight, unhealthy body weight, extreme efforts to avoid weight gain and an unrealistic view of one’s shape.

  • Bulimia Nervosa symptoms are as follows: recurrent episodes of binging and then purging, scarring on knuckles, misuse of laxatives, excessive exercise or fasting.

  • Binge Eating Disorder symptoms are as follows: unable to stop eating even when full, hiding wrappers, eating to an uncomfortable fullness, needing to eat alone.

These are some of the most common symptoms associated with each disorder. If you are experiencing some of these symptoms, please contact your doctor.

Relationship Between Eating Disorders and College Athletes

College athletes are frequently shown on TV with their athletic performance and body being showcased to the world. With the rise of social media, we are frequently faced with athletes' bodies on the cover of Instagram posts, magazines, and articles. According to Body Image And Disordered Eating Among Athletes by Justine Reel, this media attention can put an emphasis on their appearance and body type. Athletes often try to resemble their role models (e.g. professional athletes, teammates, coaches) and will often feel pressure to look like the athletes they idolize to enhance their athletic performance. This unrealistic standard can cause anxiety and body image issues for athletes. Allison Grady, a Clinical Research Coordinator, Eating Anxiety Treatment (EAT) Lab at the University of Louisville and Louisville Center for Eating Disorders said, “It's impossible to fulfill both standards at once (or one standard at all), and comparing yourself to fitness models who are training just for aesthetic purposes when you're a high-level athlete training for competition is impossible, exhausting, and really harmful for your mental health.” Grady highlights the difficulty for an athlete to cope with the unrealistic standard that our society puts on ourselves to fit this “ideal body type.”

Depending on your sport, the body needs to be able to perform in different ways. A cross country runner needs endurance to run longer distances. While a gymnast needs more strength to be able to tumble, jump, and throw their body in various ways. Comparing your body to another athlete is not a realistic or a fair comparison. The athletes that are constantly being showcased commonly have a desire to achieve this “ideal body type”. The ideal body type can be ingrained into an athlete by family influences, coaches, or other teammates. Stevens said, “I used to believe that the ideal college athlete body type was muscular but thin. When we think of athletes, we associate this with people that are healthy and strong, but to me that meant being extremely thin.” All athletes want to be successful in their sport and many fall into the trap of sacrificing their physical and mental well-being to achieve this. This problem stems from cultural influences. The fashion and sports industry values appearance and showcases individuals that have an “unobtainable” body type for most individuals. Just because an athlete or role model is successful and has the “ideal body type” does not mean they are engaging in healthy habits.

Resources for Athletes Struggling with Eating Disorders

There are resources available for anyone struggling with an eating disorder, especially athletes. The Mayo Clinic offers resources for people to utilize if you are struggling or think you might be struggling with an eating disorder.  An athlete could reach out to a mental health professional like a therapist or a psychologist. Professionals in this field will be able to diagnose an individual and help develop a treatment plan. The treatment plan could involve therapy, medicine, nutrition education, residential treatment, or hospitalization.

Another resource to reach out to is a registered dietitian. Sadie Dahlk, is a Registered Dietician. She says that , ”When struggling on increasing intake and determining needs, seek out a registered dietitian. They will assess micronutrient needs (calcium, vitamin D, iron, magnesium, etc.) and specific calorie protein amounts needed.” A Registered Dietician has the education to make accurate and personalized recommendations (e.g. meal plan or supplement recommendations) to help an athlete regain health or strength. Some colleges have this resource on campus, or you can set up an appointment with a dietician in your community. The National Eating Disorder Association also has a hotline to talk to someone and lists specific resources to contact depending on your regional location.

The fashion and sports industry values appearance and showcases individuals that have an “unobtainable” body type for most individuals. Just because an athlete or role model is successful and has the “ideal body type” does not mean they are engaging in healthy habits.

Six Tips for Coaches, Teammates, and Parents of Athletes

Empowering coaches, teammates and parents with the right knowledge and communication skills is essential in both aiding an individual’s recovery from an eating disorder and preventing the development of such harmful behaviors. By adhering to these six crucial steps, you provide the necessary support, understanding and encouragement to help your athletes recover and promote healthy habits.

1. Value the person over the performance.

Athletes are under this large internal pressure to perform to the best of their abilities all the time. They are looking for validation of their worth, especially at a young age, from their coaches, teammates, and parents. If a coach is constantly telling an athlete what they are doing is not good enough, then they will develop a low sense of confidence. This new self-image drastically increases their likelihood of developing an eating disorder, so they feel “in control.” As a coach, you want to win, but at the end of the day we need to care more about our athletes than the results on the field. As a parent, pay attention to how your athlete is feeling throughout their sports journey. It’s so easy to get caught up in accolades, college recruiting, sponsorships, and playing time that we forget to check in with our athlete. When an athlete feels like their worth is determined on performance that is where mental health struggles start to arise. Sports are an amazing way to spend your adolescence, but we need to make sure our athletes feel valued and worthy regardless of how they perform on the field.

2. Be compassionate

Whether if you are an athlete or not, we should treat each other with compassion. If your child, player, or teammate is struggling with an eating disorder, see what you can do to help them. Not everyone needs to play “therapist” but putting yourself in their shoes can open your mind to how someone could be feeling.

3. Emphasize the importance of fueling your body

The way we talk about food has an impact on everyone around us. As a coach, it’s your job to make sure that your athletes are informed of the proper nutrition they need to be successful. Highlight to your athletes that under fueling your body can lead to the Athlete Triad which consists of extreme fatigue, decreased bone density, and menstrual problems (for women). Dahlk said, “Poor bone health (a symptom of under fueling) means an increase in stress fractures and other bone issues. And if deficiencies continue will also delay return to play.” An athlete needs to be aware of the possible consequences of under fueling their body to discourage this behavior. Athletes tend to follow their parents, coaches, and teammates, so if those individuals are encouraging fueling your body, then the athlete will likely follow.

4. Avoid saying negative comments about your own body

As athletes, we may critique our own bodies and compare them to others. This can develop an unhealthy and obsessive mindset towards changing your body. If an individual is publicly criticizing their body, this may cause others to overanalyze their own body. One person projecting their insecurities onto others causes a ripple effect. As a parent, your children in their formative years are around you all the time. If you are constantly talking down on your body, they are going to create this negative relationship with theirs as well. As a coach or teammate, avoid making these comments about your body. On your teams, try to shut down any of this negative body self-talk for the sake of the individual and those potentially impacted by those comments.

5. Be a listening ear

You don’t have to struggle with an eating disorder to be a listening ear to someone who is. Sometimes all a person needs is to share what they are feeling. This can help the athlete not bottle up their emotions and reach out for help when needed. Listening and understanding what someone has to say will help validate their feelings and give them a needed outlet.

6. Create a culture of “it’s okay to not be okay”

This can be done at home, on a team, or within a classroom. Creating a culture where it’s okay to struggle with mental health and be open about it will change lives. When someone is struggling with an eating disorder or their mental health it’s important to show them they are not alone in feeling this way. Creating that culture will facilitate those needed systematic conversations and let athletes know that it is okay to struggle and it’s okay to reach out for help. Grady said, “Start conversations with your teammates about body image concerns (in a non-triggering and safe manner, of course).” Grady’s advice touches on initiating these tough conversations to show other athletes that it’s okay to feel this way and to normalize discussion around it. I know that every single parent, coach, or teammate out there would rather have you come to them when you are struggling than attend your funeral. We need to create a culture shift in acknowledging, nation-wide in athletics, that many athletes struggle with eating disorders and mental health problems. That it’s okay to not be okay and your athletic community is there to help you get through this.

While I sit here writing this, debating if I will allow myself to eat dinner tonight, I want to remind people of the importance of recovery. Utilizing the tips above allowed me to realize that it’s okay to feel this way and to reach out for help when these thoughts arise. I have been able to get through my toughest days by using positive self-talk and avoiding saying negative comments about my own body. Stevens also highlights that her body is a large reminder of what she was able to overcome, and how there are healthy ways to remain fit off and on the sports field.

Call to Donate

Running in Silence is a national organization raising awareness of eating disorders within athletes. The organization is promoting the education of parents and coaches on eating disorders and the protocol of dealing with them. Mental health needs to be treated the same as physical health as both can be detrimental to an athlete’s physical health and well-being. Running in Silence is raising money for the resources to provide coaches with presentations to give them actionable steps to take when dealing with an athlete with an eating disorder. I encourage everyone reading this to take a stand against the mental health and eating disorder stigma and donate to this program to help athletes one step at a time.

Taylor Smith is a junior at North Central College. She is a triple major in Marketing, Accounting and Entrepreneurship. She is a member of the North Central Women’s lacrosse team and was a member of the Women’s Soccer team for two and a half years. In her free time, Taylor is a personal trainer at Prototype Fitness in Aurora, Illinois. She has grown up in the sports world and has played, refereed, and coached soccer. Taylor is passionate about fitness and advocating for athletes’ mental health. One day she hopes to own a gym and create a welcoming environment for all individuals – regardless of age, gender, race, weight, experience – within the fitness world.