Within certain sports (ex. triathlon, running, cycling, etc.) it’s not uncommon for athletes to manipulate the diet in order to achieve a lower body fat percentage - believing that a body that weighs less will lead to athletic success. Whether for aesthetics, competitive leanness, body dissatisfaction, or in pursuit of an ideal “race weight,” what may start as an innocent attempt to lean-up or to lose a few pounds, can easily spiral out of control - undermining health, training, recovery, performance and mental well-being. Although there are safe and healthy ways to change body composition, it’s not uncommon for athletes to engage in unhealthy weight loss methods, resulting in great emotional and physical consequences.
Disordered eating is a general term describing harmful, obsessive or extreme eating behaviors that are used in attempt to achieve a lower than normal body weight. Examples include rigid or righteous eating, fasting, anxiety, control or preoccupation with certain foods, food rituals, extreme concern with body size and elimination of food groups.
Unfortunately, comments made by coaches, social media, body shaming, fat talk, attributing poor performances on weight, and regular weigh-ins intensify body image concerns, leading to disordered eating behaviors.
Because many athletes are given a socially acceptable setting to justify excessive exercise and strict eating habits, it’s not uncommon for the performances by an energy starved athlete to be celebrated. However the initial performance improvement occurring from disordered eating is typically short-lived as nutrient deficiencies, fatigue, anemia, reduced cardio function, chronic illnesses or injuries and low motivation will eventually impair physical and mental health.
How you need to look to live a quality-filled life may be different than how you think you need to look. The process of developing a positive body image takes time but to love your body in motion is worth the patience and hard work.
Preparing for an athletic should never require obsessive training and restrictive eating. As you build your fitness, build a better body image. In today’s fad-diet obsessed society, it can be difficult to keep a healthy perspective on the look of your body. You can still be an athlete even if your body doesn’t match the unrealistic images seen on social media. Athletes come in all shapes and sizes. Every Athlete has his/her own optimum performance weight where the body functions the best and this body type is achieved by consistent training, nutritious eating and proper fueling and hydration. If you are concerned about body image, remember that a performance-ready body is more about how you feel and perform, not what the scale tells you.
Your training and diet should promote long-term health and longevity in sport. Eating is not cheating. If you need personalize nutrition assistance, reach out to a Board Certified Sport Dietitian for help.
For additional reading:
Chasing Race Weight
Changing your perception of race weight
Still trying to reach your "race weight"?
Attempting to reach race weight