Athletes are often seen as the definition of health, strength, and discipline. They train hard, push their limits, and chase big goals. But behind the medals and personal bests, many struggle with something that doesn’t get talked about enough—disordered eating.
This is especially common in sports where weight plays a big role, like gymnastics, wrestling, running, and figure skating. In these sports, being lean, fast, or light isn’t just encouraged—it’s often seen as necessary to win. Over time, the pressure to fit a certain body type can make unhealthy habits seem normal, blurring the line between dedication and real danger. Restricting food, over-exercising, or obsessing over weight can start to feel like part of the process, making it harder to recognize when something is wrong.
By recognizing these signs and fostering a supportive environment, we can ensure athletes stay healthy—physically and mentally—while still reaching their full potential.
Why Are Athletes at Higher Risk for Eating Disorders?
Phrases like “You have to be lean to be fast,” “Cutting weight is just part of the sport,” and “Pain means you’re doing it right” may sound like motivation, but they can actually contribute to a harmful culture of perfectionism, restriction, and over-exercise. When these messages are repeated often enough, they start to feel like facts rather than dangerous myths—pushing athletes toward unhealthy habits and making them more vulnerable to eating disorders.
Here’s why these mindsets can be so damaging:
1. Performance Pressures
For many athletes, success feels directly tied to their body. Whether it’s running faster, jumping higher, or competing at a lower weight class, they may believe that their value comes from how they look or what they weigh—rather than their actual skill and training. When winning and body image become intertwined, it can lead to dangerous habits like extreme dieting, dehydration, or over-exercising, all in the name of “peak performance.”
2. Sport Culture & Expectations
Some sports (and even certain coaches or organizations) put an unhealthy emphasis on body size rather than ability. In weight-class sports like wrestling or rowing, athletes are often encouraged to drop weight quickly to fit into a lower category. In aesthetic sports like gymnastics or figure skating, there’s an unspoken (or sometimes very spoken) expectation to be as lean as possible. These pressures can make restrictive eating seem like a normal—or even necessary—part of the sport, when in reality, it puts both physical and mental health at risk.
3. High Pain Tolerance
Athletes are trained to push through discomfort. A little soreness is expected after a tough workout, and dedication often means pushing past mental and physical limits. But when pain tolerance extends to extreme hunger, exhaustion, or warning signs of an eating disorder, it becomes dangerous. Many athletes ignore red flags—like dizziness, constant fatigue, or stress fractures—because they’re conditioned to believe that suffering equals strength.
The Hidden Nature of Eating Disorders in Athletes
Disordered eating in athletes can be incredibly difficult to spot because many of the warning signs look like normal—even admirable—parts of sports culture. The same behaviors that might raise concern in a non-athlete, like strict food rules, excessive training, or skipping meals, are often brushed off as “discipline” or “commitment” for athletes. This makes it easy for disordered eating to go unnoticed or even encouraged, leading to serious physical and mental health consequences.
Common Misconceptions That Hide the Problem
“They’re just being careful with their diet.”
Athletes are often praised for eating “clean” or following strict meal plans, but there’s a fine line between mindful nutrition and obsessive restriction. If an athlete is constantly avoiding entire food groups, stressing over every bite, or feeling guilty after eating, it may be a sign of disordered eating rather than healthy discipline.
“Of course they train hard—it’s part of being an athlete.”
Intense training is expected in sports, but when an athlete is working out excessively, skipping rest days, or feeling anxious when they don’t exercise, it can signal a deeper issue. Over-exercising, especially when paired with restrictive eating, can lead to burnout, injuries, and long-term health risks like bone loss or hormonal imbalances.
“They don’t look sick, so they must be fine.”
One of the biggest misconceptions about eating disorders is that they always result in extreme thinness. In reality, athletes of all body types can struggle with disordered eating. Some may even appear strong and fit while dealing with serious nutritional deficiencies, fatigue, and mental distress behind the scenes. Judging health based on appearance alone can delay much-needed intervention.
Why Athletes Hide Their Struggles
Even when an athlete knows something isn’t right, they often keep their struggles to themselves. Why? Fear.
- Fear of losing their spot on the team – Many athletes worry that speaking up about their struggles will make them seem unfit to compete or lead to being benched. They push through, even when their bodies are suffering.
- Fear of judgment – In a culture that values toughness and resilience, admitting to struggling with food or body image can feel like a weakness—especially in sports where there’s an expectation to “power through.”
- Fear of seeming weak – Many athletes tie their self-worth to their performance. If they’ve been conditioned to believe that cutting weight or training excessively is what makes them successful, breaking free from those habits can feel like giving up.
Subtle Signs of Disordered Eating in Athletes
Disordered eating doesn’t always look obvious. Many athletes struggling with it are still high-performing, showing up to practice, and appearing to “have it all together.” That’s why it’s so important to recognize the subtle red flags—before they escalate into serious health risks.
Physical Signs
- Frequent injuries with slow recovery – Stress fractures, muscle strains, and joint pain that don’t heal properly can be a sign that the body isn’t getting enough nutrients to repair itself.
- Extreme fatigue, dizziness, or lightheadedness – Feeling constantly drained, getting dizzy when standing, or struggling to get through workouts could point to low energy availability.
- Irregular or missed menstrual cycles (for female athletes) – A disrupted cycle (or no period at all) can indicate that the body is under too much stress from inadequate nutrition.
- Digestive issues or unexplained stomach problems – Bloating, constipation, or stomach pain can result from restrictive eating, food anxiety, or an imbalanced diet.
Behavioral Signs
- Obsessing over food, weight, or calories – Constantly checking nutrition labels, tracking every meal, or expressing fear about certain foods can be a red flag.
- Avoiding team meals or following rigid food rules – Saying “I already ate” to skip group meals, refusing to eat anything but “safe” foods, or feeling guilt after eating are concerning behaviors.
- Training excessively—even when injured, sick, or exhausted – Rest days are a key part of training, but an athlete struggling with disordered eating may feel like they must exercise no matter what.
- Wearing baggy clothes to hide weight loss – Some athletes may try to cover up physical changes with oversized clothing, making it harder for others to notice.
Emotional Signs
- Anxiety, irritability, or mood swings (especially around meals) – Food-related stress can make an athlete feel on edge, defensive, or overly emotional.
- Perfectionism and self-criticism, tying self-worth to body size – Many athletes already hold themselves to high standards, but if their confidence depends entirely on how they look, it can be a warning sign.
- Social withdrawal—distancing from teammates, skipping outings – If an athlete starts avoiding social situations (especially those involving food), it could mean they’re struggling in silence.
Why These Signs Are Easy to Miss
Disordered eating doesn’t always look like extreme thinness or dramatic food restriction. Athletes can be high-performing and still struggling. They might still be winning races, lifting heavy, or competing at a high level—but their body and mind could be suffering beneath the surface.
That’s why early awareness is key. If you notice these signs in a teammate, friend, or athlete you coach, check in with them. A simple conversation could be the first step in helping them find the support they need. Health should always come before performance.
How Coaches, Teammates & Loved Ones Can Help
Recognizing these harmful mindsets is the first step toward creating a healthier, more balanced approach to training. Coaches, parents, and teammates all play a role in shifting the conversation away from body size and toward overall well-being. Instead of reinforcing harmful ideas, we can replace them with healthier messages:
Instead of: “You have to be lean to be fast.”
Try: “Strength and endurance come from fueling your body properly.”
Instead of: “Cutting weight is just part of the sport.”
Try: “Performance isn’t just about weight—it’s about training, recovery, and mindset.”
Instead of: “Pain means you’re doing it right.”
Try: “Listening to your body is just as important as pushing yourself.”
Start the Conversation Gently
Instead of “You look too thin,” try “Hey, I’ve noticed you seem really exhausted lately—how are you feeling?” Make it clear you care about their overall well-being, not just their performance.
Shift the Focus from Weight to Strength
Praise skills, effort, and resilience instead of body size. Encourage proper fueling and recovery as part of long-term success.
Know When to Intervene
If an athlete’s health is at risk, early intervention is key. Encourage seeking help from a sports dietitian, therapist, or medical professional.
Breaking the Silence, Building a Better Future
Sports should be about strength, resilience, and growth—not harm. The culture around athletics should empower, not endanger.
Disordered eating too often hides in plain sight, masked as “discipline” or “commitment.” However, recognizing the warning signs early can save both lives and careers. No athlete should have to choose between their health and their performance.
Whether you’re a coach, parent, teammate, or an athlete yourself, awareness is the first step toward change. By fostering a culture that prioritizes well-being over weight, we can create a future where athletes thrive—not just in their sport, but in life.
