Excessive Weight Loss and Food Aversion in Athletes Simulating Anorexia Nervosa

Abstract

The dominant role of athletic activities in our society and the extent and intensity of sports participation by large numbers of young people create stresses causing a whole new constellation of health problems, both emotional and physical. One such problem is excessive weight loss and food aversion in athletes. The condition is in many ways similar to primary anorexia nervosa as commonly encountered in young women. The athlete avoiding food and experiencing extreme weight loss is most often a male, however, and does not suffer from severe, deep-seated emotional problems. He is typically a serious and outstanding student athlete fearing failure in meeting expectations of admiring coaches, teammates, and parents. The prognosis is excellent under the treatment by an informed, reassuring physician. The athlete's physician should provide a precise definition of optimum level of fatness for given sports participation. Guidance should be given in such a way that the desired level of fatness can be safely achieved, without threatening health and fitness.