The weather is warming up, and school is out. But for many, this also means that our sporting season is has come to an end. This transitional period can create challenges for those who are in eating disorder recovery. There is often a societal pressure to remain in ‘shape’ all year round, especially for athletes. However, this change can be difficult to navigate when you are struggling with an eating disorder.
Body Image in Athletes
Generally, athletes are thought of as being very fit and coinciding with a certain appearance. However, we rarely consider how these beliefs may cause harm, or how holding the title of an athlete may enforce disordered eating and challenge those who are in eating disorder recovery.
Sport can create a variety of pressures on athletes in both performance demands and demands related to their athletic image. For many athletes, the perception of their body (otherwise known as body image) is strongly tied with their self-esteem.
In aesthetic sports, such as figure skating, gymnastics or dance, many athletes find that their appearance is tied with their ability to be successful in sports. The same has been said to be common in sports where appearance is not generally considered in competition. Therefore, it is important to understand that physical activity and sports do contribute a role in influencing how folks perceive their own bodies, regardless of an athlete’s age, gender or sport.
Off-Season Weight Gain
For many athletes struggling with an eating disorder, the off-season can be a challenging time of year. However, it is important to remember that changes to our bodies are normal, especially when we are out of season and taking on new endeavors. Folks may see weight fluctuations during the off-season. With high expectations of sports during the season, it’s difficult for many athletes to change the mindset of being focused and committed to their respective sports in the off-season.
Switching your perception from our bodies appearance to our bodies function can be very helpful in this transitioning period, which has also been shown to enhance body satisfaction. We can adopt this mindset during the season as well, as we should never be tying our weight or appearance to our success. It is not how we appear that fuels us in sport, but our abilities.
Coaches & Mentors
In the world of sports and athletics, coaches and trainers often act as the first line of defense in eating disorder prevention and early intervention. As a coach or sport professional in this position, having a strong understanding of how to best approach an athlete who may be struggling with body image or disordered eating is crucial in early detection of eating disorders.
Although it is important for coaches and sport professionals to recognize the signs and symptoms of eating disorders, the knowledge of a licensed mental health professional is the best help to those who are attempting to navigate these challenges in their athletic career. A supportive coach is one that collaborates with healthcare professionals to help athletes get the support they need.
How Change Creates Change Can Help
Book a free consultation call with one of our clinicians to learn more about how we can support your child through their eating disorder recovery.
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