Nutrition Topics > Eating Disorders

Contributed by Sharon Jacob, Registered Dietitian
Penrose-St. Francis Health Learning Center

Important Facts
• Athletes are at risk for eating disorders due to the emphasis on low body weight to enhance performance.
• Extreme weight control measures are unhealthy and may put the athlete at risk for chronic disease.
• There are two main categories for eating disorders: anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
• Food is not the issue with eating disorders, an underlying emotional disturbance is the root cause.
• Professional help is required for recovery from an eating disorder.

General Information
Eating disorders represent an effort to manage emotional problems with abnormal eating behaviors that can have life-threatening physical consequences. A distorted perception of body shape and weight accompanies both of these disorders. See below for defining characteristics:

Anorexia

Symptoms of anorexia include:
• Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height.
• Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat.
• Disturbance in the perception of one’s body shape and weight, or denial of the seriousness of the current low weight.
• Amenorrhea: the absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles.

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