Eating Disorders in Male Athletes: Factors Associated With Onset and Maintenance

Abstract

Male athletes are underrepresented in eating disorders research. This phenomenological study investigated the experiences of male athletes who self-identified as having an eating disorder, disordered eating, or compulsive exercise behaviors. Eight male collegiate athletes were interviewed, and qualitative analysis identified factors associated with the onset and maintenance of disordered behaviors. Among the novel findings was the salient influence of social media as a driver of body dissatisfaction and disordered behaviors. The participants described a perceived sense of control and feeling of pride associated with the use of behaviors, cultural norms in a male sport environment that sustained these behaviors, and a shared belief that, until they experienced a loss of control over their use of behaviors, they would not likely ask for help or seek treatment. These findings have implications for additional research, as well as individual and systems-level strategies for the prevention, screening, and treatment of eating and exercise disorders in male sport.

Low Energy Availability and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport: What Coaches Should Know

“…The communication style and methods employed by the coach can have negative or positive effects. Negative coach commentary regarding the athlete's performance, body composition, or attitude may propel the athlete to adopt pathological habits to attempt to reduce the negative commentary 94,[218][219][220]223 . In contrast, positive commentary used to support an athlete can assist them to avoid pathological behaviours 224 .…”

“…These conversations are personal and should be conducted privately away from other athletes 101,221 . Coaches should respect the athlete's autonomy; it is their choice to seek medical attention. Coaches can merely encourage the athlete to seek medical attention 101 . Coaches must respect their scope of practice; they are not medical professionals, and they cannot diagnose illnesses, injuries, or disorders 222 . For athletes with LEA, effective coach-athlete (and, if appropriate, coach-parent) communication is imperative. The communication style and methods employed by the coach can have negative or positive effects.…”

“…Coaches must respect their scope of practice; they are not medical professionals, and they cannot diagnose illnesses, injuries, or disorders 222 .…”

“…Coach communication can be difficult to navigate, and coaches often use a mix of positive and negative strategies 224 . However, strategies for positive coach-athlete/parent communication have been proposed, such as encouraging open dialogue, not dismissing or denying athlete concerns, and encouraging the athlete to seek medical advice particularly relating to weight issues and mental health 94,219,223,224 After an athlete has sought medical advice, the coach can support the athlete in adhering to the recovery plan. In particular, the coach should adhere to medically recommended activity restrictions as part of the return-to-sport protocol when the athlete has returned to training.…”

A prospective study of teammate factors on athletes’ well-being, disordered eating, and compulsive exercise.

“…Evidence suggests that indices of poor psychological well-being (i.e., low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression symptomatology) are often integral to the development of problematic eating and exercise attitudes and behaviors, whereby behaviors such as excessive exercise, restriction, or purging are carried out in an attempt to alleviate feelings of anxiety or depression (Fairburn et al, 2003; Meyer et al, 2011). Furthermore, the sport environment can also influence athletes’ dysfunctional eating and exercise behaviors/attitudes (Freedman et al, 2021; Scott et al, 2019b). Indeed, the more pressure athletes perceive from their sport environment (e.g., from their teammates, coach, fans) regarding their appearance and weight, the more likely they are to engage in pathological weight-control behaviors (Anderson et al, 2011).…”