Introduction
Sports may be an excellent way to boost self-confidence, encourage physical fitness, and highlight the importance of collaboration, but not all sporting pressures are beneficial. The stress of competing and the focus on physical appearance may be harmful. Competition in sports may also exhaust a person both mentally and physically. Athletes are more likely to suffer from disordered eating when the demands of sports competition are incorporated into an already-present socio-cultural preference for thinness. Eating disorders both affect the athletes mentally and physically and result in poor performance by them. However, it has been seen that female athletes suffer more from eating disorders; however, the chances of the development of eating disorders in males are no less. It is mainly seen in a sports activity that focuses on the athlete's nutrition, looks, size, and weight requirements, particularly those participating in sports like gymnastics, figure skating, ballet, running, wrestling, and bodybuilding.
What Are the Various Eating Disorders Seen in Athletes?
It might be challenging to identify the warning indications of eating problem behaviors in athletes. While behaviors like stressing about food intake, training for extended periods besides practice, and feeding the body with healthy meals are all praised, these are just a few warning signals that an athlete may be having a hard time. All people who have eating disorders experience harmful side effects, but athletes may experience these differently. For instance, athletes who struggle with eating disorders are more likely to experience RED-S or Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports. The energy input is less, and energy expenditure is more, creating energy deficiency in athletes. This energy deficit leads to a compromised health system evident in the body’s metabolic system and immune system, bone development and health, menstrual cycle, mental health, synthesis of protein in the body, and cardiovascular health of the person.
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Anorexia Nervosa- The term anorexia nervosa describes eating habits that are extremely restrictive. These behaviors are frequently exhibited by athletes of aesthetic sports like gymnastics and swimming. The signs exhibited by them that connect them to this diseased condition are:
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Refusing to eat food, especially in front of others.
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Counting the calories present in the food.
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Obsession with size and weight.
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Obsession with the nutritional content of the food.
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Complaining about tiredness and stamina loss.
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Lack of concentration.
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Develops a fear of weight gain.
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Missing out on meals.
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Bulimia- Individuals with bulimia nervosa binge eat, then engage in coping mechanisms such as eliminating food by vomiting, fasting, or excessive physical activity. This disorder is more prevalent in athletes than anorexia nervosa since they need more food to fuel their activity and may still struggle with their looks or weight owing to the demands of their sport. The following behaviors may indicate an athlete is exhibiting bulimic tendencies:
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Overeating patterns are followed by bathroom trips.
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Eating in secret.
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Obsession with the size, form, and weight of the body.
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Expressing guilt over eating food.
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Eating beyond the limit.
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Excessive fluid or coffee consumption.
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Repeated injury to the knuckles.
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Increased use of laxatives.
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Binge-Eating- It is a prevalent problem among athletes, especially if they neglect to feed their bodies in a manner compatible with the energy they expend. Observe the following indications of binge eating:
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Fluctuation in the weight.
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Secretly hiding and eating food.
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Eating at an unusually fast pace.
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Expressing guilt over eating food.
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Eating unusually large portions of food.
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Depression and tiredness.
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What Long-Term Impacts Do Eating Disorders Have on Athletes?
As an athlete's energy production requires good nutrition and optimal physical function, both of which are hindered by an eating disorder, the long-term effects of eating disorder behaviors can be severe. If a sportsperson who exhibits disordered eating behaviors is not addressed, the following effects may develop over time:
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Imbalance in the metabolism.
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Greater risk for injuries.
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Reduced response to training.
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Judgment gets impaired.
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The aerobic function gets impaired.
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Vital organ injury.
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Loss of muscle and bone.
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Coordination is impaired.
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Anxiety and depression increase.
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Menstrual cycle loss and problems in conceiving.
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Increase in suicidal thoughts.
What Are the Predisposing Factors for Eating Disorders?
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Perfectionism- A prevalent personality trait among athletes is perfectionism. Athletes who strive for perfection might acquire eating disorders in order to maintain a specific weight or body image in order to prevent being as uncommitted to their sport. Additionally, they could suffer from performance anxiety, in which case the eating problem serves as a way to deal with it.
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External Pressure- Social media and the way society (parents, friends, coaches) views athletes may also put pressure on athletes. Since athletes may feel pressured to appear or eat a specific way or commit to a certain amount of training in order to comply with what people expect of an athlete, the pressure they face in their surroundings might lead to an eating problem.
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Other predisposing factors are:
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Dissatisfaction from body weight.
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Isolation from society.
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Regular weighing or ongoing dieting.
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Sensitivities to rejection.
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Mood or anxiety changes.
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How Is the Diagnosis Made for an Eating Disorder?
Athletes who have eating disorders are diagnosed in a manner similar to that of an eating disorder in a non-athlete. The use of screening questionnaires can be helpful in detecting eating disorders, but sportsmen are less likely, to be honest , to avoid restrictions on their participation in sports. Unfortunately, some coaches may knowingly neglect or be ignorant of the indications of eating disorders. They can even restrict therapists' access to players. The following screening questionnaires are advised since they have all been demonstrated to be useful screening instruments for healthcare professionals in diagnosing eating problems in athletes:
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AMDQ or Athletic Milieu Direct Questionnaire.
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ESDA or Eating Disorders Screen for Athletes.
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DESA-6 or The Disordered Eating Screen for Athletes.
How Is an Eating Disorder Treated?
Taking a break from a sport while receiving treatment is needed. Clinicians, coaches, and loved ones must stress that starting therapy while a patient is unable to play their sport will make them better athletes when they are able to return. It is critical that a patient joins an inpatient medical stabilization unit with a focus on eating disorder care if the medical consequences of having an eating disorder are severe.
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Physical Therapy- As the eating problem gets better, physical therapy can assist the athlete in returning to a gradually increasing level of athleticism.
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Occupational Therapy- Additionally, occupational therapy may be helpful in assisting the patient's reintegration into their lives following treatment and into their different career paths, particularly in terms of how they are going to resume their position on a team or continue to pursue their sports aspirations.
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Psychotherapy- Discussions on the rightness and function that sport serves in a patient's life can be facilitated by psychotherapy. Athletes who are not well suited for a certain sport or activity may be advised to cease engaging in it and switch to a different one that would better fit their body type. Another option is to motivate them to engage in their chosen sport on a not competing level where the risks are reduced.
Conclusion
Due to the potential link between training regimens and sports performance, athletes are particularly at risk for disordered food and exercise habits. Understanding the hazards that athletes experience is essential for offering coaching and preventative support. This can enhance the chance of prompt action and, hence, long-term recovery while also lowering the risk of developing eating disorders.
