Prevalence of Eating Disorders in Student Athletes
There are tremendous physical and mental health benefits of being a student-athlete. Whether in high school or continuing into college, students have the opportunity to bond with their peers and develop essential life skills, such as socializing and communication skills. However, eating disorders in student athletes are not uncommon. The pressure that comes with being an athlete can trigger the development of an eating disorder when individuals engage in unhealthy habits.
Prevalence Of Eating Disorders In Sports
Student-athletes are vulnerable to developing eating disorders commonly due to training schedules and strict diets. According to a study on disordered eating and compulsive exercise in collegiate athletes, 84% of college athletes engage in disordered eating behaviors. These behaviors include excessive exercise, fixation on one’s body, fasting, and intense dieting. Student-athletes who develop an eating disorder can have severe health repercussions, such as dehydration, impaired muscle flexibility, electrolyte imbalances, and loss of the menstrual cycle. While student-athletes need to maintain specific standards to continue engaging in training, the normalization of eating disorders within sports has become prevalent.
How To Support Student-Athletes With Eating Disorders
There are several ways in which families and coaches can support student-athletes. Although research has shown that only 27% of coaches feel confident enough to identify a struggling student, they can still support their athletes by viewing them as whole persons instead of focusing solely on performance. Coaches can switch their tactics from negative to positive, by encouraging students rather than commenting on their body shapes or appearance. Coaches and parents can collaborate on the best ways of encouraging student-athletes without setting off triggers or pushing them too hard to the point of overexertion. Moreover, coaches should focus on celebrating their athletes’ dedication and achievements.
BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, located in New York City, offers free consultation calls to help you explore next steps. We provide in-person programming seven days a week and are in-network with UnitedHealthcare (UHC), Cigna, Emblem, and Oscar, with Aetna coverage coming soon. Support is available, and recovery is possible. Schedule a free consultation call with our admissions team here and stay connected with BALANCE on Instagram here.
References
Clerkin, B. (2024, January 18). The prevalence of eating disorders among college athletes. Within Health. Retrieved September 9, 2024, from https://withinhealth.com/learn/articles/the-prevalence-of-eating-disorders-among-college-athletes#:~:text=Additional%20studies%20have%20found%20that,of%20all%20college%20athletes%20reported%3A&text=Bulimic%20tendencies,Body%20dissatisfaction
Ekern, J. (2024, April 3). What athletes are most likely to have an eating disorder – eating disorder hope. Eating Disorder Hope. Retrieved September 9, 2024, from https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/risk-groups/eating-disorder-athletes/what-athletes-are-most-likely-to-have-an-eating-disorder
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Regina Colie (she/her).
Regina Colie is a blog contributor for BALANCE, whose previous work has been featured in Project HEAL and Nourishing NY. She is an alumnus of The New School of Social Research, where she received her Masters in Psychology. After attending Marymount Manhattan College, she had the opportunity to be published in Dr. Nava Silton’s book, The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child, Adolescent, and Adult Development.
