Eating Disorders in Athletics
摘要
Eating disorders (EDs) are all-too-common occurrences in athletic populations due to a variety of interconnected biopsychosocial contributing factors and vulnerabilities. Particularly salient to this population is the overlap between “good athlete” personality traits and ED pathology (e.g., perfectionism), which may be reinforced by the sporting environment. Sport culture greatly impacts the risk of developing disordered eating (DE) behaviors potentially creating a catalyst to a clinically diagnosable ED. Team contagion, traumatic sport experiences, competition and performance demands, difficult-to-manage training plans, athletic transitions (e.g., injuries, breaks, retirement), and body image pressures (emerging from socially prescribed body ideals both within and outside of the sport context, sexualization of the athletic body via sportswear, and media pressures) are examples of ways that sport culture can foster DE behaviors. Of concern is the consistently long period of time or failure, even by medical professionals, to notice ED presentation in athletes. This is likely due to athletes being assumed “healthy” for appearing “fit.” Combined with the high energy output of athletic training, EDs are often identified only once concerning physiological and psychological consequences and risks to the athlete’s health and performance emerge (including both those identified under the umbrella of Relative Energy Deficiency Syndrome (REDs), as well as commonly identified symptoms presenting in non-athlete clinical ED populations). This chapter addresses prevention, identification, assessment, and treatment of EDs in athletics. We outline the key evidence-based ED treatments and explore how EDs are specifically addressed in the athletic milieu.