Eating disorders in athletes

Abstract

Eating disorders,such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, can have a negative impact on athletes ’performance and health. Athletes, compared to non-athletes, both women and men have risk for having an eating disorder. This is especially true for athletes in sports where low weight or slimness is a competitive advantage. There are 3 main types of eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorders), even anorexia athletica appears among athletes. Athletes who suffer from eating disorders are recommended to be banned from sports. Efforts to prevent eating disorders should be directed to athletes, coaches, parents and professionals working with athletes, and should focus on uniformly broaden knowledge of healthy eating to support athletic performance and health.