Disordered Eating in Athletes: 7 Hidden Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
Disordered eating in athletes is often difficult to recognize, especially because some behaviors are normalized in sports culture. Tracking food, pushing through hunger, and striving for a certain body type are often seen as part of being “disciplined.” But for many athletes, these patterns can quietly become harmful.
If you’ve ever felt consumed by thoughts about food, body, or performance, you’re not alone. In this post, we’ll break down the most common signs of disordered eating in athletes, why they’re often missed, and when it might be time to get support.
What Is Disordered Eating in Athletes?
Disordered eating exists on a spectrum between normal eating habits and clinical eating disorders. It may include restrictive eating, rigid food rules and cutting out food groups without a medical diagnosis, cycles of under-fueling or anxiety around food or body image. Whether you experience one or multiple symptoms, you deserve care. For athletes, these behaviors are often tied to performance goals, but over time, they can negatively impact both physical and mental health. It can be hard for athletes to determine if their symptoms are related to RED-S, disordered eating or an eating disorder. Head to this blog post for more on this distinction.
Why Disordered Eating Is Common in Athletes
Athletes face unique pressures that can increase risk for developing disordered eating. While some sports see higher rates of disordered eating than others, there is no sport in which the prevalence is zero. Some common risk factors include:
Emphasis on weight or body composition
Performance expectations
Coaching or team culture
Perfectionism and high standards
Because of this, behaviors that might raise concern elsewhere are often overlooked in sports environments.
7 Hidden Signs of Disordered Eating in Athletes
Disordered eating doesn’t always look obvious. Here are some signs that are commonly missed:
1. Constantly Thinking About Food
You may find yourself planning meals far in advance, worrying about what you “should” eat, or feeling distracted by food thoughts throughout the day, This constant rumination borders obsession, and is a common indicator of inadequate fueling.
2. Rigid Food Rules
Examples include:
labeling foods as “good” or “bad”
avoiding certain foods entirely without a medical diagnosis
needing to eat in a very specific way
These rules often feel difficult to break, even when you want to. When they are broken, you might feel overwhelming guilt.
3. Training Without Proper Fueling
You may:
skip meals before or after workouts
ignore hunger cues
prioritize training over nutrition
Over time, this can lead to low energy availability and conditions like RED-S.
4. Guilt After Eating
After eating, you might feel anxious, guilty or like you need to “make up for it”. These feelings might be amplified if you “break'“ food rules. This can lead to cycles of restriction or overtraining.
5. Body Checking or Fixation
Body checking or fixation on appearance often indicates an over-evaluation of shape or body size. This might look like frequently checking mirrors or window reflections, comparing your body to others or obsessing over weight or appearance.
6. Performance Decline or Fatigue
Instead of improving, you may notice decreased strength or endurance, slower recovery and persistent fatigue.
7. Feeling Out of Control Around Food or Exercise
You may feel stuck between:
trying to control everything
feeling like things are spiraling
This often overlaps with anxiety or OCD-related patterns.
The Connection Between Disordered Eating, OCD, and RED-S
Disordered eating in athletes rarely exists in isolation. Many athletes also experience other mental health challenges like OCD and RED-S. The presence of other struggles might be indicated by obsessive thoughts about food or performance, rigid routines or compulsive behaviors, or physical symptoms related to under-fueling. These patterns can connect to conditions like OCD or RED-S, making it even more important to look at the full picture, not just food behaviors alone.
Why These Signs Are Easy to Miss
One of the biggest challenges is that many of these behaviors are praised or reinforced, such as “clean eating”, pushing through hunger, strict discipline, or focusing on weight for performance. Because of this, athletes often minimize their struggles or delay getting help under the belief that they are “just being disciplined”. Any number of symptoms or amount of mental distress justifies seeking help.
How Disordered Eating Impacts Performance
While these behaviors may seem helpful at first, they often lead to:
decreased energy and endurance
increased injury risk
hormonal imbalances
difficulty concentrating
burnout
Long-term, under-fueling and mental stress can significantly limit performance potential.
How Therapy Can Help Athletes
Working with a therapist who understands athletes can help you develop a more flexible relationship with food and reduce anxiety and rigid thinking patterns. A therapist might help you rebuild trust with your body, leading to improved mental and physical performance. This isn’t about giving up structure. It’s about creating a sustainable approach that actually supports your goals.
When to Get Help
You don’t need to wait until things feel severe. It may be time to reach out if:
food feels stressful or controlling
you feel stuck in rigid patterns
your performance is declining despite working harder
your thoughts about food or body feel constant
you notice overlap with anxiety, OCD, or physical symptoms
Early support can make a significant difference. Any amount of distress in your relationship with food or your body justifies seeking support.
You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone
If you're an athlete struggling with food, body image, or performance-related stress, support is available.
Stride Counseling specializes in working with athletes navigating disordered eating, OCD, and conditions like RED-S.
Getting help can allow you to feel more in control, more energized, and better able to perform, without the constant mental pressure.