Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 Mar 1;21(3):92-99.
doi: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000942.

Considerations for Athletes with Eating Disorders Based on Levels of Care

Affiliations
Review

Considerations for Athletes with Eating Disorders Based on Levels of Care

Rachael E Flatt et al. Curr Sports Med Rep. .

Abstract

This article provides an overview of levels of care for eating disorders (EDs) and considerations that are specific to elite athletes. We discuss the following levels of care in terms of ED pathology and treatment aspects that may be unique to athletes: 1) inpatient and residential care, 2) intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization treatment, and 3) outpatient. Illustrative case studies also are presented to highlight distinctions between levels of care and athlete-specific nuances to treatment approaches and health care teams. Finally, we review aspects of return to play plans for elite athletes with EDs.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Smink FR, van Hoeken D, Hoek HW. Epidemiology of eating disorders: incidence, prevalence and mortality rates. Curr. Psychiatry Rep . 2012; 14:406–14.
    1. Bratland-Sanda S, Sundgot-Borgen J. Eating disorders in athletes: overview of prevalence, risk factors and recommendations for prevention and treatment. Eur. J. Sport Sci . 2013; 13:499–508.
    1. Rice SM, Purcell R, De Silva S, et al. The mental health of elite athletes: a narrative systematic review. Sports Med . 2016; 46:1333–53.
    1. Martinsen M, Sundgot-Borgen J. Higher prevalence of eating disorders among adolescent elite athletes than controls. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc . 2013; 45:1188–97.
    1. Wagner AJ, Erickson CD, Tierney DK, et al. The diagnostic accuracy of screening tools to detect eating disorders in female athletes. J. Sport Rehabil . 2016; 25:395–8.

LinkOut - more resources