What is anorexia athletica?

Anorexia athletica definition

Unlike anorexia nervosa, there is no specific anorexia athletica definition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This can make spotting—and diagnosing—the condition a tricky prospect, but, in general, AA is considered a subset of anorexia nervosa that specifically impacts athletes.¹

In these cases, people utilize a severely limited food intake to lose weight, as with AN. However, people with AA also use excessive exercise to achieve a low body weight or specific lean body shape.¹

On top of often struggling with factors like low self-esteem or poor body image, people struggling with AA usually believe that achieving these certain weights, shapes, or sizes will offer them an athletic advantage in their sport.¹

What causes anorexia athletica?

Anorexia athletica remains a largely understudied mental illness. As such, it's difficult to pinpoint the exact causes of the condition. It's likely, as with nearly all eating disorders, that a combination of mental, physical, and environmental factors combine to create this pattern of disordered thoughts and behaviors.

Some sports pressure athletes to achieve certain body weights, shapes, or sizes more than others.² Wrestling, ballet, and gymnastics, among others, have all been tied to these expectations.¹ Some studies have found that athletes in these types of "lean body" sports had higher body shape concern scores than those in "non-lean" sports.³

These thoughts may be learned or be connected to other conditions that commonly co-occur with many eating disorders, including anxiety and depression.⁴ But once someone begins utilizing excessive exercise and extreme food restriction to deal with these thoughts, it can be difficult to stop.

Unfortunately, in some cases, coaches or fellow players may encourage athletes to participate in unhealthy levels of exercise or food restriction due to cultural norms or competitive nature. Spotting excessive exercising behaviors in an athlete can also be very difficult, making it easy for someone to develop AA or struggle with the unrecognized condition for a long time.

What is anorexia athletica? Signs and symptoms

Again, there are no official criteria to define anorexia athletica, so what doctors and researchers consider signs and symptoms of the condition may vary.

Some warning signs that may indicate an issue include:⁵

• Lack of energy
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Increased recovery time between workouts
• Difficulty concentrating

Anorexia athletica is also often marked by low body weight, which can result in:⁶

• Menstrual cycle disruption or absence of a period
• Osteoporosis
• Weakened immune system
• Dizziness
• Anemia
• Depression

Medical complications of anorexia athletica

Anorexia athletica can have several effects on physical and mental health.

Excessive exercise can put undue strain on the body, leading to frequent injuries. These can then bring on extreme distress if someone has to stop competing or is unable to workout in the way they prefer.

The extreme food restriction involved can also lead to malnourishment, which can bring on a host of problems, such as:⁷

• Low body temperature
• Low heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Digestive system issues
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Soft bones

Prevalence of anorexia athletica

Again, AA has not been studied as extensively as other eating disorders, so estimates of anorexia athletica prevalence vary.

One study, which looked at pre-professional teenage ballet dancers, found that 6% of participants struggled with AA, compared to 2% of high school students. Anorexia athletica was diagnosed in 6% of the dancers compared to 2% of regular high school students.⁸

Another study looked at the presence of eating disorders in various sports and found that athletes participating in "aesthetic sports," such as dance, cheerleading, aerobics, gymnastics, and figure skating, had the highest rate of eating disorders overall, at 42% of participants.⁹

Treatment for anorexia athletica

There's no eating disorder treatment specifically recommended to help with anorexia athletica. But, as with nearly all eating disorders, it's likely that a combination of mental health care, nutritional counseling, and possibly medication will be needed to overcome the condition.

Therapy

Some form of psychotherapy is nearly always used to help, as eating disorders are mental health conditions at their core. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), and family-based therapy (FBT) are all commonly recommended to help patients with varying conditions, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.

Nutritional counseling

Nutritional counseling is also nearly always utilized in eating disorders. This type of care helps patients create more positive relationships between themselves, food, eating, and their bodies, along with teaching them more appropriate and healthier eating habits.

Physical therapy

Those struggling with AA specifically may also benefit from types of physical help to soothe or heal sports-related injuries. Learning how to create a healthier relationship with exercise is also necessary.

Finding help for anorexia athletica

If you or a loved one are struggling with AA or another eating disorder, it's vital to seek out help. These conditions can be dangerous if left untreated, so it's best to seek guidance from a mental health professional.

Your primary care physician or therapist is a great place to start. These experts can help diagnose your condition or determine your next best steps.