Rated 'Excellent' by our patients
Call Us
Anorexia Athletica is an eating disorder which closely resembles Anorexia Nervosa in its signs and symptoms, though it primarily affects athletes. At ABBI Clinic, we provide anorexia athletica treatment programmes that are tailored to your needs in order to ensure you receive the compassion and care you deserve.
Anorexia athletica can be described as a very similar condition to anorexia nervosa, characterised by a strict fixation on eating as little as possible to keep body weight to a minimum. What differentiates this condition, however, is that the motivation for doing this is connected to athletic performance.
Living with anorexia athletica typically combines restrictive eating behaviours, such as extreme calorie counting or meal skipping, with compulsive exercise, resulting in unhealthy weight loss, malnutrition, and other serious health problems.
This eating disorder is normally connected with sports that require a certain body type or shape in order for athletes to be successful. For example, sports like dancing and gymnastics might encourage you to prioritise a slim, lightweight physique, whatever the consequences.
It can be very difficult to distinguish the signs and symptoms of anorexia athletica, but identifying the difference between a dedicated athlete and someone living with this eating disorder is possible. Spotting symptoms is an important first step in every recovery process.
People living with anorexia athletica typically have a significantly low body mass index, with body weight falling below what would be considered healthy for someone of their age and sporting background.
Food restriction in anorexia athletica is often driven by the belief that a lower body weight will improve athletic performance. This can involve closely monitoring calorie intake, limiting the variety of foods eaten, and adhering to a rigid eating schedule.
Despite a lack of nutritional meals in your diet, you will likely continue to push yourself. You will exercise regularly, train for events, and compete against other athletes, placing a tremendous amount of stress on your underfed body.
Despite significant nutritional deficiency, the drive to continue training and competing typically remains strong. Regular exercise, event preparation, and competition continue alongside inadequate fuelling, placing considerable physical stress on a body that is not receiving what it needs to perform or recover.
In women who have not reached menopause, anorexia athletica can cause periods to stop (or not start for younger women).
Anorexia athletica can pose a number of risks. You can experience intense guilt and low self-worth alongside a number of physical health complications, so it is vital that those who need treatment are supported as soon as possible.
At ABBI Clinic, we believe that timely, specialist intervention matters. Our approach is responsive, flexible, and built around your real life. Whether you are in the early stages of recognising a difficulty or have been experiencing symptoms for some time, we are here to provide a clear, supported path forward, delivered with the clinical expertise and compassion you deserve.
Everyone’s experience of anorexia athletica is different, and recovery involves addressing both the psychological drivers of compulsive exercise and the physical impact on your health. Your personalised plan may include:
Individual therapy gives you dedicated one-to-one time with a specialist psychological therapist. Sessions offer a confidential space to explore the beliefs, identity factors, and emotional functions that are sustaining your relationship with exercise and food restriction.
Group therapy brings you together with others in a structured, supportive, and facilitated environment. Sessions help you to examine shared patterns, develop healthier coping strategies, and rebuild a sense of identity and self-worth beyond performance or physical appearance.
Family therapy involves you and those close to you in understanding and supporting your recovery. Sessions explore how sport, appearance, and achievement may have been reinforced within your relationships, and how to build a more supportive home environment.
A specialist eating disorder dietitian will work with you individually to address the nutritional consequences of restriction and compulsive exercise, and to develop a sustainablenapproach to eating that properly supports your body and your recovery.
Supported mealtimes are an important part of Day Care treatment for many people with anorexia athletica. Eating with others in a calm, structured setting, with your clinical team present, helps to normalise regular nourishment and reduce the anxiety associated with food.
A Consultant Psychiatrist will be part of your initial assessment and will provide clinical oversight throughout your treatment, including consideration of any co-occurring conditions and medication where relevant.
Our mental health nursing team carries out regular physical health monitoring throughout your treatment. Health checks, including weight monitoring and medical observations, are conducted by our nurses, who are present and available throughout each day.
Looking to learn more about anorexia athletica? Find answers to our most commonly asked questions here, or reach out to get in touch with a member of our expert team.
While an athlete might go above and beyond to perform at their very best, their focus will typically remain on training and improving their overall health. With anorexia athletica, however, focus skews almost exclusively to weight and nutrition, turning obsessive to the point where decisions become dictated by eating as little as possible.
Anorexia athletica can develop for a number of complex, interconnected reasons. You might inherit critical perceptions of food and body weight from sports coaches or the media, or you might be required to meet a certain weight for a competition and become fixated on restrictive eating habits thereafter.
Without receiving the right treatment for anorexia athletica, a number of health issues can occur as a result of nutritional deficiencies. These include muscle injuries, broken bones, arthritis, and osteoporosis.
Taking the first step is often the hardest part. Whether you have questions about our treatment programmes, want to understand your funding options, or are ready to arrange an assessment, we are here to help.
Fill in the form below, or call us, and we’ll guide you through the next steps.
