Eating Disorders Are Not A Rite Of Passage

Me running before, during, and after my eating disorder.

Mary Cain. Hannah Fields. Amelia Boone. Lauren Fleshman. Rachele Schulist. Molly Seidel. All incredible athletes. All suffered from disordered eating. And this list doesn’t even scratch the surface.

Eating disorders are common among runners of all ages, but as the pressure to perform increases, so does the pressure to lose weight, to “optimize performance,” or simply to “look like a runner.” Research has shown that nearly 47% of elite female athletes in “leanness sports” — ones that emphasize size, such as running, rowing, or gymnastics — have experienced eating disorders. Let’s pause for a minute to acknowledge that half is an outrageously large percentage. In comparison, 21% of non-elite athletes experienced eating disorders, which is still incredibly, egregiously high. The pressure to perform and the desire to be lean go hand-in-hand, but too often, athletes push past healthy weight ranges. Performances suffer. Injuries occur. Mental health and well-being decline. And the passion that lead us to the sport in the first place wanes dramatically.

While eating disorders are more common in women, plenty of men suffer too. Rationally, we think losing weight makes sense. We run faster when we’re lighter, to a point. Too many of us, however, push beyond that point thinking more is better. Worse yet, the culture of competitive athletics often directs…