These are just a few of the messages sports dietitians use to promote optimal fuelling and a healthy body image. Many successful athletes are motivated by a desire to excel and have a natural competitive nature, often possessing driven and perfectionistic personalities. It is not uncommon for athletes to begin to take workouts and dietary practices to unhealthy extremes in order to achieve success. As the prevalence of disordered eating in sport continues, sports dietitians and all medical personnel must learn to identify properly and follow evidenced based-practice when treating athletes with these issues. Disordered eating occurs when attitudes toward food, body weight, and size lead to eating and exercise habits that could potentially be dangerous to one’s health and well-being. Higher rates of eating disorders (ED) have been found in elite athletes compared to non-athletes.

Signs and consequences:

• Training more than recommended.
• Overuse injuries or stress fractures.
• Low energy availability.
• High level of anxiety when unable to practice or train.
• Negative comments about weight or being 'fat'.
• Avoidance of social situations, esp. those involving food.
• Loss of muscle.
• Decrease in testosterone levels in men.
• Fatigue.
• Dehydration.
• Electrolyte imbalance.
• Low blood sugar

Other risks/detriments to perfomance:

• Decrease in speed.
• Decrease in endurance and coordination.
• Increased risk of injury due to under-fuelling weak bones.
• Menstrual irregularities.
• Chronic muscle soreness.
• Low energy + increased recovery time.

Ways to foster healthy eating practices among your Athletes:

• Promote realistic goals to avoid physical/mental burnout.
• Focus should be on fitness levels and performance, rather than body weight.
• Help your athletes strive for balance between exercise and eating.
• Encourage mindful and purposeful eating by honoring their hunger cues.
• Remind your athletes that celebrities and models aren’t D1 athletes, and make them aware
  of how celebrity photos are often altered with airbrushing, etc.
• Help your athletes avoid comparing their bodies to athletes on TV. (Your body is unique to you).
• Work with your athletes on 'body satisfaction.'
• Remind them to be proud of everything that their body does for them.
• Work with athletes on developing healthy and positive thoughts about food, food groups, and body image. Food is fuel for my performance. Carbohydrates provide my body with the energy. I need and help with my recovery. Fats are essential for nutrient absorption and hormonal balance.

Energy Availability (EA) = Energy Intake (EI) – Energy Expenditure (EE)
Health and nutrition professionals can address low EA by helping athletes work on increasing calorie intake and/or decreasing activity.

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