The Dangers of an Eating Disorder on Student Athlete Performance

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Student-athletes face tremendous pressure and the transition from high school or club sports to collegiate athletics can exacerbate this pressure. A change in an environment, being away from primary support systems, developing a relationship with a new coach with a new training plan, higher level of competition, and adjusting to a new academic load and schedule are often all factors that the student-athlete must navigate.

For a student-athlete with a high athletic identity and limited sense of self beyond that role, this transition can be a threat to this identity and make student-athletes vulnerable to a culture of disordered eating or that values sport-specific body-image ideals. As these athletes are finding ways to maintain a high level of performance, disordered eating behaviors can develop but these too often lead to unbalanced eating that could lead to more dire consequences. Creating an environment of informed athletic staff is vital to creating a preventive and proactive support system for college athletes to rely on. Let’s take a look at some of the serious dangers posed by eating disorders and the common warning signs to keep in mind throughout the athletic season.

The Consequences of Eating Disorders on Athletic Performance Among Collegiate Athletes

When a student-athlete develops an eating disorder, one of the last thoughts in their mind are the potential repercussions they could see in both the short and long-term. As they continue to participate in their sport and their training regimen, the nutritional deficit they’re relying on can begin to impair their performance, physical health, and their overall well-being. It is important for coaches, athletic trainers, team physicians, sports dietitians, and sports psychologists to be aware of the potential warning signs to support the student-athlete in getting the support and care they need as early intervention is key.

Energy Deficiency

As a student-athlete trains, exercises, and plays their sport, their body relies on the proper levels of food intake and nutrition in order to continue keeping their energy stable and available for use. However, unbalanced nutrition, or underfueling in general, can cause an athlete’s energy levels to plummet rapidly. When the body does not have enough energy due to conscious or unconscious underfueling by the student-athlete, their body makes metabolic compensations that can impact every system in the body. A comprehensive eating disorder recovery plan is necessary if the disorder has been affecting the student in the long term.

Hormonal & Metabolic Imbalance

Irritability and moodiness are common side effects in anyone with an eating disorder, but we can especially spot this in student-athletes who are expected to keep up their training regimen and play their sport like normal. We could see this manifest as frustration directed at teammates, arguments with their coach or family, and increased isolation. In menstruating student-athletes, an ED can cause them to develop infertility issues and even stop their menstrual cycle completely. Additionally, an eating disorder can also cause metabolic compensation in which their body has to slow down metabolism to conserve energy.

Impaired Judgment & Concentration

When a student-athlete receives the proper food intake, nutrition, and rest, they’re giving their mind everything it needs to concentrate on both their athletic and academic performance, as well as enable themselves to have everything they need to make decisions when necessary. Without these building blocks for their cognitive functioning, a student-athlete is at higher risk for impaired concentration, delayed reaction time, and poor judgment as they play their sport, all of which can also affect them in their daily life outside of competition or practice.

Decreased Endurance & Muscle Strength

As a student-athlete develops an eating disorder that doesn’t give their body the energy or fuel they need, they may see an initial increase in performance, but that level of performance is never sustainable. Student-athletes often experience longer periods of recovery from training, their long-term muscle growth is inhibited, and their body may need to break down muscle in order to support continued training.

Increased Likelihood of Athletic Injury

As a student-athlete progresses through an eating disorder, their body’s bone density and muscle percentage can take a drastic turn as their body attempts to find nutrition wherever it can to continue operating. This loss of strength, while not always physically apparent, can quickly lead to an increased risk of injury, even in their everyday exercises or routine athletic practices. In this way, an eating disorder can disrupt the student-athlete’s future athletic pursuits if the injury is serious enough or they find themselves receiving game-ending injuries often.

Increased Likelihood of Mental Health Concerns

While physical concerns are often top of mind for coaches and trainers of student-athletes, the unseen mental health issues that can develop can be just as serious, if not more severe in a shorter amount of time. Eating disorders often go hand-in-hand with generalized anxiety disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and even substance abuse in certain situations. Each student athlete’s personality, genetic predisposition, and environment will contribute to determining which mental health concerns could develop. Because mental health is often an invisible burden each student-athlete bears in their own way, this is the most difficult consequence to see from the outside-in.

Common Warning Signs of EDs in Student Athletes

There are a variety of eating disorders, each with its own unique warning signs to look out for, but there are several red flags that are often seen across the spectrum of EDs. These include:

Adherence to an excessively restrictive diet or exhibiting an avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
Aversion to social situations involving food or refusal to eat in public
Obsession with their body shape, features, or size
Self-imposed excessive exercise regimen
An extremely negative body image
Dramatic or sudden weight loss
General social isolation

While many of the common warning signs are similar across athletes of different genders or sports, it may not always be easy to distinguish between an overtly “health-conscious” student, and one with an eating disorder. Regardless of the culture perpetuated by the particular sport involved, it’s important to keep these red flags in mind so you’re ready to act as support when you find someone who needs it.

Whether you’re a coach, trainer, athletic team professional, or fellow student-athlete, learning the various consequences of an eating disorder can help you foster a culture that understands the importance of proper fueling in relation to the energy demands of your sport. You can also continue to challenge unrealistic body image ideals and instead emphasize the many other factors of athletic performance beyond weight and body composition that contribute to athletic performance. With the ability to recognize the warning signs of an ED, a single team can help change the way college athletes view and prioritize their health and well-being to support their athletic performance.

If you are a student-athlete, a coach, trainer, or a friend that needs personal support or knows someone who may need help, know Athlete EDGE at EDCare is here to help. Our team of compassionate specialists have the understanding and expertise to help with a variety of eating disorders and will build an individualized recovery program built specifically for athletes. Contact us at (866) 421-5736 to schedule a free, confidential assessment or fill out our inquiry form to get started now.