From Fuel to Fear: How Athletes Develop Disordered Eating & Finding Eating Disorder Therapy in Cherry Hill, NJ
About 70% of athletes have experienced disordered eating at some point during their career. There is a strong connection between athletic culture and disordered eating behaviors. Each sport tends to differ, and we will break that down throughout this article. Addressing these differences and why eating disorders in athletes are so prevalent is the first step in taking action. Additionally, increasing the conversation around this topic is crucial because it is so present in sports.
The more we talk about it, the more it reduces shame so that folks struggling feel comfortable getting help, including seeking eating disorder therapy in Cherry Hill, NJ.
Understanding Disordered Eating in Athletes
Let’s start by addressing the difference between disordered eating and eating disorders. Eating disorders in athletes fall under a certain classification of illnesses that are diagnosable. There are certain behaviors and classifications that need to be checked off in order to be diagnosed with a specific eating disorder. Disordered eating may have very similar behaviors, and there may even be a heightened level of anxiety around the behaviors. However, if the behaviors do not fit exactly into the box of the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder, it would be considered disordered eating.
Here are a few different types of disordered eating behaviors that you may notice:
Restriction.
Binging.
Over-exercising.
Unhealthy obsession over “healthy foods.”
Eliminating certain foods from your diet or labeling foods as “good” or “bad.”
Some folks may look at some of these behaviors and say, well, isn’t eating healthy a positive thing? We want to be able to listen to our body and dictate what makes us feel good. However, when anxiety takes over our eating behaviors, it takes us away from the things or people that we used to enjoy. You may notice increased isolation or avoidance of events where food is present. This is when it becomes a problem. When there is difficulty being flexible and enjoying food, it tends to separate us from others and make us feel more alone.
The Root Causes: Why Athletes Are At Risk
There is not one reason or one thing that causes an eating disorder. I like to call the reason an eating disorder occurs “the perfect storm.” This is when multiple factors come together and the result is an eating disorder. Some of those factors are personality traits such as perfectionism and high achievement. These traits are commonly seen in athletes, increasing the risk of eating disorders in athletes.
Other factors are specific to each sport. For example, aesthetic sports, such as gymnastics, dance, or figure skating, have a focus on looks as well as tight uniforms. Other sports that are weight-based due to having specific weight classes are wrestling, weightlifting, and rowing. Another category is endurance sports, such as running or cycling, in which there are often myths focused around lighter being faster.
Social Pressures and Body Image: A Hidden Driver of Eating Disorders in Athletes in Cherry Hill
Social media impacts body image concerns as well. Beauty ideals are emphasized on social media, leading to complex thoughts and feelings for a lot of athletes. These beauty ideals within diet culture often contradict the sports standards for bodies.
For example, in weightlifting, it is seen as a positive factor to build muscle for strength. However, that may feel contradictory and confusing to traditional female beauty standards that emphasize building muscle as “not feminine”. This may leave athletes struggling to feel they belong in either aspect.
The role of coaches and peers is another factor that impacts how athletes see themselves and their bodies. If bodyweight or disordered eating is emphasized as a part of performance, that can lead to difficult pressures that result in negative body image for athletes. However, if peers discuss food from a non-judgmental place and normalize all bodies, this can influence positive thoughts and behaviors among the team and each individual.
Recognizing Disordered Eating in Athletes & When to Consider Eating Disorder Therapy in Cherry Hill
Eating disorders like to hide in secrecy and denial. Recognizing disordered eating is not always obvious. Matter of fact, you would never be able to tell in most cases which athletes are struggling with some type of disordered eating based on their body. You cannot tell by just looking at someone’s body if they are healthy or not.
Some physical symptoms that you may notice are:
Fatigue.
Gastrointestinal issues.
Avoidance of certain foods.
Working out extra outside of practice times.
A preoccupation with food or performance.
If you or someone you know is noticing these signs, seeking eating disorder therapy in Cherry Hill, NJ, can be a crucial step toward healing and support. At Serendipity Counseling Services, we offer compassionate, specialized care to help athletes and individuals navigate their recovery journey.
The Impact of Disordered Eating on Athletic Performance
Disordered eating usually starts in athletes with nothing but good intentions of trying to improve their performance. Unfortunately, disordered eating has the opposite effect. It tends to decrease energy, stamina, and endurance, while increasing the risk of injury and prolonging recovery times.
You will often see mental health consequences, such as increased anxiety, depression, and burnout, within sport. These are just the short-term effects. There are also long-term effects on physical and psychological health beyond the sport. This, of course, includes eating disorders in athletes and the long-term effects of relative energy deficiency in sport.
Eating Disorder Therapy & Treatment Options for Athletes with Disordered Eating
If you know someone who is struggling with disordered eating in New Jersey, it is recommended to reach out to an eating disorder therapist in NJ who specifically works with athletes. Check out this blog post on finding an eating disorder therapist that works with athletes in New Jersey.
There are also many online eating disorder therapy services to help you through recovery outside of seeing an individual therapist. This can come in the form of virtual support groups or podcasts.
Support Groups for Athletes
ANAD offers occasional support groups for athletes. They do not run regularly, however, they do come up often. They also offer a general support group for eating disorders, binge eating support groups, and support for caregivers.
Our support group at Serendipity Counseling Services is offered to help you improve your relationship with movement or your sport. We talk about everything from food, body image, values, competing, and how to enjoy movement again.
Podcasts for Athletes
Another awesome resource to help you through your recovery journey is podcasts! The Lane 9 Podcast has conversations with female athletes in all areas of life, as they share their journey through disordered eating, body image, and anything regarding being a female athlete.
PHIT for a Queen is an awesome podcast about athletes and their journey through healing their relationship with food, and The Appetite is a podcast that is run through the eating disorder treatment team at Opal: Food and Body Wisdom. Any of these podcasts is a great place to start!
Closing Thoughts from an Eating Disorder Therapist in Cherry Hill, NJ
To recap, early intervention and support are extremely important in the healing process. The sooner you seek support through eating disorder therapy in Cherry Hill, NJ, the more likely you are to rid your mind of the anxiety around food.
As an eating disorder therapist in NJ, I find that increasing the conversation among your teammates and peers helps make others feel safe to reach out for support sooner. Reducing the shame or fear, or stigma is such an important factor in changing the system. Mental and physical health should always come first because being healthy is about so much more than performance.
So if you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating, take the first step and reach out for support. If you are confused about where to start, try giving one of the podcasts a listen!
Break the Cycle with Eating Disorder Therapy in Cherry Hill
When food becomes a source of pressure instead of fuel, it’s time to take a closer look. For athletes, the line between discipline and disordered eating can be hard to spot, especially in a culture that praises pushing through. At Serendipity Counseling Services, we offer compassionate eating disorder therapy in Cherry Hill, NJ, to help athletes heal their relationship with food, body, and performance.
Here’s how to get started:
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to explore your experience and ask questions.
Book your first eating disorder therapy session, designed around your athletic background and recovery goals.
Start building a healthier relationship with food and self, one rooted in balance, not burnout.
You don’t have to choose between performance and well-being. Let’s find a better way, together.
More Therapy Services in Cherry Hill, NJ & Online in MD and PA
Beyond providing eating disorder therapy for athletes in Cherry Hill, I offer specialized support for runners and actively promote awareness around disordered eating in sports through speaking engagements.
I also lead the Retired Athlete Support Group, a virtual space where former athletes can reflect on their time in sport, explore life beyond competition, and reconnect with their identity in a supportive and nonjudgmental environment.
Helping Athletes Heal: Your Eating Disorder Therapist in NJ
Kate Ringwood is a licensed professional counselor and the founder of Serendipity Counseling Services, where she specializes in eating disorder therapy for athletes in Cherry Hill, NJ. As a lifelong runner and former competitor, Kate understands the pressure athletes face around food, performance, and body image.
She takes an athlete-informed, compassionate approach, helping clients heal their relationship with food and body without judgment. In addition to her clinical work, Kate shares her insights through podcast appearances and public speaking on sports, identity, and disordered eating.
