02/26/2025
I have a couple of posts I make annually, and this is one of them. This week is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, and I share a version of this post every year to bring awareness to the risk of eating disorders in sports AND life after sports.
Athletes are at increased risk to develop an eating disorder. Why does this matter? Well, eating disorders are the second deadliest mental illness only to opioid addiction. So...pretty serious. But so often, eating disorders are dismissed in sport, written off as “disciplined” “motivated” “dedicated”.
Eating disorder behaviors are praised in sport culture, which makes it even harder for athletes to get the help they need and deserve. And sadly, the risk for eating disorder development doesn’t decrease when an athlete retires. In fact, former athletes are more likely to develop maladaptive eating behaviors than current athletes.
Which means the risk doesn’t stop once the sport does.
Eating disorders don’t have a “look”, and there’s no level of “sick enough” that qualifies you to deserve help. You deserve help. And you deserve a peaceful relationship with food and your body. As an athlete, and in life after sport ❤️
