Home InsightsEating Disorders in Athletes: Here’s What you Need to Know

Eating Disorders in Athletes: Here’s What you Need to Know

4 Minutes

Edited & medically reviewed by THE BALANCE Team

Fact checked

Athletes are often seen as the epitome of health and fitness, but many struggle with serious health issues beneath the surface. One of the most concerning is the prevalence of eating disorders, which affect about 20% of athletes, with the majority remaining undiagnosed. The relentless pursuit of peak performance and ideal body composition can push athletes toward harmful behaviours that jeopardise their health and longevity. We sat down with our leading doctor and nutritionist, Dr. Indhira Ghyssaert, to discuss why athletes are so susceptible to eating disorders, how they manifest, and how the Balance helps athletes achieve optimal performance.

Athletes are more susceptible to eating disorders due to the intense pressure to achieve an ideal body shape and weight that is often perceived as crucial for optimal performance. The competitive nature of sports can drive athletes to adopt extreme dietary practices or overtrain, leading to energy imbalances and disordered eating patterns. Some sports emphasise leanness or a specific body type, which can further exacerbate the risk. The culture of discipline and perfectionism in athletics can also contribute to unhealthy relationships with food and body image. While some eating disorders that affect athletes are outright, others can lay under the surface and develop without the person even knowing. The most dominant underlying issue that develops is called Red-S Syndrome.

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) syndrome results from insufficient energy intake relative to the energy expended during intense physical activity. This energy imbalance can lead to many health problems, including menstrual disturbances, decreased bone density, immune dysfunction, and hormonal imbalances. While initially recognised in female athletes under the term Female Athlete Triad, RED-S is now known to affect all genders, with broad and significant health implications. The syndrome often arises not from deliberate eating disorders but from a misunderstanding of the energy needs required for an athlete’s demanding lifestyle. If left unchecked, RED-S can severely impact performance and long-term health.

The athletes most susceptible to developing RED-S Syndrome are those in sports that emphasise leanness, endurance, or weight categories. These include endurance athletes like long-distance runners and cyclists, aesthetic sports like gymnastics, ballet, and figure skating, weight-class sports like wrestling and boxing, and high-intensity training sports like swimming and rowing. These athletes often face pressure to maintain low body weight or body fat percentages, increasing the risk of energy deficiency and associated health issues.

At The Balance, our approach to treating eating disorders in athletes is comprehensive and tailored to each individual. Dr. Ghyssaert explains: “From a medical point of view, we look at the main values for clues: blood pressure, pulse, and biochemistry. In men we’ve treated with eating disorders, testosterone is often very, very low. The skin can even show signs of dehydration acutely. This is where biochemical restoration comes in. We restore the body back into balance on all levels. I also use homoeopathy to treat testosterone if needed.”

We focus on restoring proper energy balance through nutritional rehabilitation and offer psychological support to address underlying issues related to body image, anxiety, and perfectionism. Our multidisciplinary team includes nutritionists, psychologists, and medical professionals who work together to guide athletes back to health, ensuring they have the knowledge and tools to sustain their recovery and continue their athletic careers. We recommend that all athletes complete in-depth medical check-ups with doctors who specialise in biochemical restoration and seek nutritional support from experts who understand what the body needs to perform optimally.

The issue of eating disorders among athletes is a complex and often overlooked challenge that requires a nuanced understanding and a comprehensive approach to treatment. Athletes face unique pressures that make them particularly susceptible to conditions like RED-S Syndrome, where energy imbalances can lead to severe health consequences. At The Balance, we recognise the importance of addressing these disorders’ physical and psychological aspects. Our tailored treatment plans include nutritional rehabilitation, biochemical restoration, and psychological support, aiming to restore athletes to peak health while equipping them with the tools to maintain their well-being. By fostering a healthier relationship with food and body image, we help athletes achieve sustainable performance without compromising their health.

HOW THE BALANCE CAN HELP WITH Insights

The Balance RehabClinic is a leading provider of luxury addiction and mental health treatment for affluent individuals and their families, offering a blend of innovative science and holistic methods with unparalleled individualised care.