This report by the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine and Loughborough University discusses eating disorders and disordered eating in athletes. Their research shows that eating disorders and disordered eating is common in athletes, impacting 1 in 5 female athletes and around 1 in 12 male athletes. This has a negative effect on athletes’ physical performance as well as their mental wellbeing. Identifying signs of eating problems in athletes is key to ensuring a full recovery and coaches and sport professionals play an important role in the identification and management of disordered eating among athletes.
This report provides practical advice for identifying eating problems in the sport context. Information in this report covers different types of eating disorders and their symptoms, the risks, how to identify the problems, advice, and treatments.