Participation in organized sports can be a great opportunity for athletes, as they often encourage exercise, an increased self-esteem, and many other positive benefits. However, the pressure to succeed can often lead to negative effects, as some sports place athletes at an increased risk of eating disorders. According to a study among NCAA athletes conducted by mirrormirror.org, a site specializing in eating disorders, more than one-third of female athletes displayed symptoms that put them at risk for anorexia nervosa, one of the most common eating disorders found in the general population. The grand majority of athletes that have eating disorders are female, however male athletes are also at risk.

Eating disorders can occur within all sports, but the sports with the greatest risk of eating disorders are known as “lean” sports, such as ballet, gymnastics, diving, wrestling, boxing, or any other sport that places an influence on weight or classifies weight as an advantage. Sports that place focus on individuals rather than teams also place athletes at risk for eating disorders, as well as sports that focus on endurance, such as track and field and swimming.

Certain personality traits such as competitiveness, high self-expectations, and perfectionism can create an unhealthy drive to have the “perfect figure for a sport. Training for a sport since childhood, working for a scholarship, and other outside pressures can be influential as well, such as coaches, parents, or other authority figures that pressure athletes to do well no matter what.

The two most common eating disorders in athletes are bulimia and anorexia. While anorexia involves the obsessive monitoring of food intake and reduction of calories, bulimia involves binging on large amounts of food and then trying to get rid of the calories by inducing vomiting or exercising excessively. The warning signs in athletes are similar to the ones in non-athletes, including obsessing over weight and appearance, a decrease in performance, fatigue, over-exercising, and depression or mood swings. Eating disorders can lead to severe health problems. It is common for anorexics to develop osteoporosis, which is a condition that causes the bones to become weak and brittle. For this reason, many athletes with eating disorders have a higher risk of sprains and fractures.

There are many preventatives against eating disorders, such as positive coaching styles that focus on the individual rather than overall performance, and social support from friends, family, and fellow teammates. It can be difficult to recognize the signs of eating disorders, but it is important to do so to prevent serious harm and in extreme cases, fatalities. The first thing to do when a disorder becomes apparent is to seek medical help. Online and public resources, such as the National Eating Disorders Association are also available. It is important to do anything possible to get help.