Written by Disordered eating is defined as potentially harmful and disruptive eating behaviours. This can include behaviors such as abnormal dieting, increased attention to food intake, and weight watching. Disordered eating can sometimes, not always, develop into Eating Disorders (ED) (Mancine et al., 2020). This is a subgroup of diagnosable psychiatric disorders that centre around clinically concerning eating behaviours. Eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN), Binge Eating Disorder, and several others. ED puts individuals at risk for further medical complications and has a high comorbidity with other mental health conditions (Mancine et al., 2020). Furthermore, individuals with ED have been found to be less likely to seek medical attention for their disorders.
Participation in youth sports, for the most part, has a positive impact on young individuals. Particularly, individuals joining high school sports teams report higher overall satisfaction with their high school experience and better grades (Mancine et al., 2020). Furthermore, research has shown that participation in high school sports is the most significant predictor of physical activity later in life for men (Mancine et al., 2020). Despite the positive findings, research has also shown that participation in youth sports can have unintended physical and emotional consequences, such as a higher risk of stress fractures and increased emotional and mood instability (Mancine et al., 2020). It has been noted that ED is more prevalent in athletes than non-athletes in the youth sports group. Studies show that this group of psychiatric disorders is more prevalent in female athletes and in lean sports such as dancing, long-distance running, and swimming (Marrows et al., 2023). A review by Mancine et al. (2020) indicates that disordered eating and ED develop in young athletes as a result of their drive to be their best.
Despite there not being a large body of research on the prevalence of ED in young athletes, specifically, male athletes, it is important to note that ED can result in longer injury recovery times (Mancine et al., 2020). Studies of male collegiate athletes’ eating habits aimed to determine the prevalence of ED in this age group found that although only 2% were underweight according to body mass index (BMI) measures, 25% of these athletes believed they were underweight (Petrie, Greenleaf, and Reel, 2008). These findings indicate that male athletes also face body-image-related pressures, suggesting a need for further research on this demographic. The same study also found that 9.3% of this cohort of male athletes showed signs of binge eating (Petrie, Greenleaf, and Reel, 2008).
In order to prevent the negative effects of ED and disordered eating on young athletes, it is important to understand what kind of messaging can cause these issues. In a study investigating food culture in youth sports, researchers found that coaches, parents, and athletes often experience confusion about the nutritional needs of young athletes (Marx & Musher, 2022). This confusion is contributed to by food and beverage ads promoting sports and energy drinks that target younger athletes, despite research showing that these are not needed by youth athletes (Marx & Musher, 2022). Furthermore, the availability of sugary drinks, sports drinks, and unhealthy snacks at sporting events contributes to the disparity between what parents, coaches, and athletes expect to be present and what actually is (Marx & Musher, 2022).
Overall, ED and disordered eating in youth athletes can be caused by a variety of contributors. It is important to find ways to mitigate the negative impacts of their psychiatric conditions by educating coaches, parents, and young athletes about the importance of nutritional health in sports. Coaches can act as the first line of defense for the development or progression of ED in young athletes by monitoring athletic performance for abnormalities and abrupt changes. Furthermore, coaching should emphasize healthy eating and exercise habits in young athletes to prevent a focus on body image from negatively affecting their psychological well-being.
References:
Mancine, R., Kennedy, S., Stephan, P., & Ley, A. (2020). Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders in Adolescent Athletes. Spartan medical research journal, 4(2), 11595. https://doi.org/10.51894/001c.11595
Marx, J. M., & Musher-Eizenman, D. R. (2022). Food Culture in Youth Athletics: Exploration of the Beliefs in USA Stakeholders. American journal of lifestyle medicine, 19(2), 230–241. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276211068413
Petrie, T. A., Greenleaf, C., Reel, J. J., & Carter, J. (2008). Prevalence of eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors among male collegiate athletes. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 9(4), 267-277. doi:10.1037/a0013178