High School Coaches: How to Identify an Eating Disorder in an Athlete

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope

Eating disorders are dangerous mental health illnesses that often go undetected. Because the nature of eating disorders are often that of secrecy and isolation, it can be difficult to pick up on signs and symptoms associated with these diseases. Early detection is crucial to intervention and treatment.

People who frequently interact with individuals who are struggling with an eating disorder may be among the first to identify when something in wrong. Subtle changes may be observed that can lead a person to recognize eating disorder behaviors.

Coaches: Be Aware of the Signs and Symptoms

Eating disorders can commonly occur among high school aged students, and certain competitive sports can trigger behaviors associated with disordered eating patterns, such as restrictive eating or excessive training/exercise. A person who coaches athletes at the high school level is on the frontline for observing these types of behaviors among athletes.

If you are a coach of high school athletes, be aware of these following signs and symptoms that may indicate an eating disorder is progressing:

• Drastic weight changes
• Frequently illnesses and/or injuries
• Extreme fatigue and/or lethargy
• Dehydration
• Underperformance
• Intense fear of weight gain and/or body dissatisfaction
• Frequently weighing or measuring body fat
• Restriction of food, dieting
• Dizziness, fainting spells
• Preoccupation with food, calories, recipes, etc
• Unusual eating habits and food rituals

Approaching Someone You Suspect May Have an Eating Disorder

If you have observed any of these concerning symptoms in one of your athletes, it is important to approach him or her with care and concern. As a coach, you may be one of the only individuals who recognize the development in an eating disorder among an athlete. By appropriately intervening, you may have the capacity to save an athlete’s life and prevent damaging consequences.

Enlisting the support of health care professionals can increase the effectiveness of an intervention. Knowing what resources are available to you can also help you direct your athlete towards the treatment they need to recover from an eating disorder. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of eating disorders among athletes can help a coach assist an individual and direct them towards the path of recovery.

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

Are you a high school coach who has encountered eating disorders among your athletes? How did you approach this situation? What resources have you found helpful for an athlete who might be struggling with an eating disorder?

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on June 2nd, 2015
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com