Until recently, with the passage of Title IX about fifty years ago, women and girls even had the option to participate in sports at school, let alone professionally. Therefore, we are still understanding the social, physical, and mental factors that may affect female athletes. One pressing issue that has emerged recently is the prevalence of dietary disorders among female athletes.

Dietary disorders typically result in feelings of confusion regarding food, body image, and eating. The three most common dietary disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

What is Anorexia Nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa, commonly known as anorexia, is characterized by restricted food intake. Often, there is also a strong fear of weight gain. These behaviors may lead to weight loss, social isolation, fatigue, or dizziness.

What is Bulimia Nervosa?

Bulimia nervosa, also known as binge-eating disorder, is characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by purging or misuse of laxatives to avoid gaining calories from the food consumed. Individuals with bulimia may also have strict expectations for themselves regarding dieting and have rigorous exercise habits.

What is Binge-Eating Disorder?

Those with binge-eating disorder typically consume large amounts of food in a short period but do not feel full or consider how much they are eating. They may struggle to stop eating and may feel out of control around food. Individuals with binge-eating disorder may also frequently eat alone due to extreme guilt or pressure related to dieting.

Why Female Athletes are at Risk?

Pressure of Body Image

Women around the world face strict scrutiny regarding their appearance. Many women are taught to fear aging and changes in body shape or size—the entire beauty industry relies on this perception in women. While there have been improvements over the past decade, women still face immense pressure to adhere to unrealistic beauty standards, which may only be achievable through surgery or photo editing.

Female athletes face additional pressure to conform to the typical body types and sizes of top athletes in their sports. For instance, a naturally muscular ballet dancer may feel the need to shrink themselves to fit in with teammates known for their “slender” physiques and famous ballet dancers they admire. Moreover, female athletes’ uniforms are often more revealing than those of male athletes. The pressure of bodily exposure may contribute to insecurity among female athletes.

Scheduling

Due to busy schedules, female athletes may find it challenging to find time for meals and snacks. Prioritizing self-care through three meals a day, adequate sleep, and time to rest may be difficult. This can make them more susceptible to developing dietary disorders, as neglecting our natural needs makes it harder for us to see our importance and value.

Female athletes may also struggle with their eating habits due to the frequent loss of calories. When you exercise for several hours a day, it can be challenging to keep up with your nutritional intake. Therefore, female athletes may unintentionally experience under-eating. What starts as unconscious behavior may become a habit, especially when individuals start receiving praise for weight loss, sparking ongoing thoughts about body image.

Identity Associated with Athletes

Athletes also face unique and challenging pressures because their careers, hobbies, or even financial capabilities depend on their bodies; the athlete identity may become their most tangible identity marker. This poses a distinct challenge because it is difficult to separate oneself from the ability to perform in a very specific way. This may make them feel like their bodies are an essential part of their contribution to the world and their sense of self.

Why is This Behavior Harmful?

Nourishing and caring for your body throughout your life is essential. You should see eating as a way to supplement your body’s energy and experience pleasure. Female athletes often lose a significant number of calories every day, and if combined with under-eating, they may be at risk for injury, dizziness, shortened menstrual cycles, disrupted sleep patterns, muscle weakness, dehydration, and many other physical and mental health issues.

How to Discuss Your Concerns with Loved Ones

Try to Understand Where They’re Coming From

When you know that someone is engaging in behaviors that threaten their well-being, it can be challenging to empathize; however, challenging yourself to understand their perspective will help foster more open conversations about eating habits. Consider the pressures your loved ones feel to conform to societal expectations, how their body image is closely tied to their identity as athletes, and how difficult it is to confront ongoing struggles with body image and dieting. Recognizing where a person comes from will help them see you as a safe person to turn to when needed.

Maintain a Non-Judgmental Attitude

During this conversation, try to be mindful of your words, tone, and demeanor. Ask questions from a place of curiosity rather than judgment. For instance, ask someone gently, “How long have you been feeling this way?” to let them know you want more information because you care about them, rather than making them feel judged for feeling that way. Even with your best intentions, the person you’re talking to may become very defensive, but if that happens, it’s essential to stay calm and grounded. You can try taking a few deep breaths before responding, as it will help you maintain a non-judgmental demeanor.

Ask If They Need Help

Offering suggestions about resources for help might be a good idea. When eating becomes challenging, you can offer to have meals with this person as a comfort. You can also help them find resources for those struggling with dietary disorders. Lastly, you can help them talk to other significant figures in their lives, such as parents, coaches, or counselors, about dietary disorders.

Build a Healthy Relationship with Food and Body Image

When you’re with this person, avoid making any self-deprecating comments about your own body, weight, or food intake. Even some common phrases or jokes (e.g., “I earned dessert today because I ran on the treadmill,” or “I’m going to be so bad today, I’ll have fries.”) can be harmful to those struggling with their body image. Try to avoid assigning moral value to food. Instead, you can try referring to food as fuel (e.g., “I’m glad to have some protein to keep my energy levels high.”). This comment does not assign moral value to food but discusses the benefits of incorporating that food into the diet.

Key Points

The three most common dietary disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

Female athletes are at risk of dietary disorders due to social pressure, busy schedules, identity challenges, and body image challenges.

Having open, non-judgmental conversations about concerns with loved ones regarding food or body image is crucial.