By: Hannah Baillie, Co-Director of Policy
Chances are you know someone with an eating disorder.
They might be a neighbour, a colleague, or an athlete. Over one million Canadians have one. They’re so common that you may not even realize someone is struggling with an eating disorder until their symptoms become severe. Here’s how you can recognize eating disorders in athletes and help them in their recovery:
1. Invite a dietitian to talk to your team
You can’t drive a car without gas, and you can’t expect athletes to perform their best without proper nutrition. Even though we now have lots of health and nutrition information available on the internet, much of it is inaccurate (especially for athletes) and potentially even harmful. As a coach, you can help your athletes gain a better understanding of sport nutrition by setting aside time to talk with a dietitian.
2. Address weight bias & diet culture
Weight bias refers to popularized stereotypes about health and weight, which run rampant in many sporting communities. Sports that value specific body types may be more prone to weight biases. Society conditions us to make assumptions based on body type, but these are often misguided and harmful to young athletes. Remember: body composition does not determine ability.
Diet culture is a term that describes the modern phenomenon of fad diets (often promoted on social media) that encourage disordered – and often dangerous – eating habits. As a coach, you are a mentor to young athletes and your opinion matters to them. When you see athletes getting caught up in diet culture, try talking to them about what a balanced diet might look like for them (or encourage them to speak with a dietitian).
3. Voice your concerns
Talking about eating disorders is HARD. But it’s only hard because we’ve built it up to be a “taboo” subject. It shouldn’t be.
When you have concerns about an athlete’s physical or mental health, you have an obligation to step in. Think about it this way: you wouldn’t let an athlete play with a broken arm, so why would you let them play with another serious (and potentially life-threatening) health condition?
If you’re unsure of how to start a conversation with an athlete about eating disorders, check out this resource for coaches from Eating Disorder Hope.
4. Prioritize health over performance
This one may seem like a given, but sometimes it can be hard to follow. Since most people with eating disorders are still classified as ‘healthy’ on a BMI chart, there is a misconception that their mental illness is not valid.
Eating disorders take up a lot of mental and physical energy, leaving little desire to practice a sport or do activities that you used to enjoy. An athlete might not be able to perform to their usual standards, appear disengaged, or have a change in temperament. Under these circumstances, it is best to have an honest conversation with the athlete to get to the root of the issue. Sometimes, a break from sport is needed to help re-establish mental and physical health.
5. Help them access care
The level of involvement you have in an athlete’s life depends on your relationship with them. In some cases, however, a coach becomes an athlete’s second parent. Helping an athlete access care for an eating disorder can change – and in some cases save – their life.
Encourage them to speak with their primary care physician, community dietitian, psychologist, or another healthcare provider. In severe cases, you may want to encourage them to visit the emergency room.
To determine what resources are available near you, visit the National Eating Disorder Centre’s ‘Find a Provider’ page.
6. Check in
Fortunately, talking to athletes about eating disorders gets easier over time. After voicing your concerns, check in with the athlete regularly to see how things are going. They may not want to talk about it or give you many details, but your check ins could give them consistent reminders and motivation to help them recover.
As a coach, you are a leader in your community and mentor to many athletes. When you speak, athletes listen. That’s how you help them win games, teach new skills, and build confidence. But it is also important to use your voice to foster good physical and mental health. Just like you wouldn’t want an athlete to run a race on a broken leg, you wouldn’t want them to compete while battling an eating disorder. If you notice changes in an athlete’s weight, exercise and eating habits, or temperament while training, take it seriously. It could make an incredible difference in that athlete’s life.
To read more about a coach’s role in eating disorder prevention and recovery, read these resources:
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/help/coaches-trainers/tips
http://eatingdisorders.ucsd.edu/resources/athletics-resources.html