Disorder | TSN Original

The pressure to succeed in sport can be overwhelming. Glory may follow success but the pursuit can also manifest serious and lasting damage in athletes. An eating disorder can be responsible for that harm. While 1 - 5% of the general population develop an eating disorder, the prevalence in some elite sports is over 30%. The TSN Original feature, Disorder, examines eating disorders in sports through the lens of athletes who have experienced the struggle firsthand.

[@Sanchezy804]

Mental health is no joke and I hate how people don’t take it serious I want them to do a eating disorder documentary on a man who has suffered through one because people would react a lot different

[@xx.m1a.x]

as a figure skating this is way more common than people think, the other day i had a fitting for a new dress and my coach made me get one 2 inches smaller than my current waist size as “motivation” i’m already underweight and eat about 1 meal a day, figure skating is a toxic sport but i could never quit, i’ve put my full life into it

[@chelsea65030]

Thank you for this. This urgent topic needs so much attention and action. As a long time figure skating fan, I've only learned about the prevalence of eating disorders in recent years. I'm also hearing more and more about the same problem in other sports. Hopefully as awareness increases, things will get better.

[@compassionatepeercounseling]

This was great! Thank you for the information and telling the individual stories. I was a former collegiate distance runner that had a similar story. My career ended due to injuries from over training and an eating disorder. I had no idea there were collegiate distance runners that died.

[@runninggirl2765]

I was told by my coach that I needed to lose 15 lbs (I was 117lbs and 5.3 inches tall). So, I did. And, I ran great...for a while. I ended up with stress fractures in both my legs and didn't have a menstrual cycle for over a year. I still struggle with body issues to this day.

[@sunflowersandpotatoes]

I am so sorry you had to go through that. Wishing you love and healing ❤

[@MarissatheXplorer]

Sharing your stories will help so many people to talk about this. Let’s help save our youth from repeating your stories.

[@a.rosesrbleu9580]

It might help some if the runners didnt have to run in a "uniform" that resembles their underwear...wth? Do the guys have to wear the same outfits??? I am grateful to see the new, strong gymnasts and i hope to see similar results across all athletics.

[@anovemberstar]

It's such a fallacy that being "light" makes you go faster, jump higher - having MUSCLE makes you perform better. Just look at how much better women's gymnastics is since more muscular gymnasts like Simone have entered the sport.

[@Abcd-rb3zg]

Thought this was an Ian Curtis doc at first

[@robwhite461]

It’s easy to blame the coaches. If you seek out an elite coach and you ask them to take you on and the first thing they say to you is you need to loose weight to be competitive what dose that mean? Is he being critical or is he doing what is required to get you to the next level? If he said nothing and you failed who would be blamed for you not succeeding? What if he said “ sorry I can’t take you on your too heavy” telling an athlete to put their fingers down their throat is not acceptable all the same, a qualified dietitian should be recommended and engaged. It’s the Athletes themselves that keep pushing the limits to create the standards. (Quadruple Axel) it’s not that long ago the pinnacle of excellence was the triple. Pro card open classification bodybuilders are taking so many chemical PED’s their body can hardly function they are dying at an early age from heart failure and cancer, it’s only a matter of time before there is a death on stage. Elite level cyclists have died from drug abuse Amphetamines, steroids, and EPO, has it stopped them from using these substances, NO! I can sympathise with anyone who has a disorder of any sort, but If you have a certain body type and you have to go to these extremes to modify your body to compete at an elite level in your chosen sport you have to ask the question “ is this sport for me”. A sport that allows you to utilise your talent at a healthy weight for your body type is what you should be striving to do. Unfortunately the money and glory involved in professional sport has driven athletes into an unhealthy mindset driving them to abuse their body to attain their goals. The question was once asked, if an elite athlete could trade 20 years off their life to be guaranteed a gold medal would they do it. Most said yes!

[@queenmorgan3902]

Very interesting

[@karenlindley.9756]

Not just sports……the arts is just as bad. The ballet world is notorious. Nearly every dancer I knew had an eating disorder and other mental illnesses…..

[@aiorlin8722]

I dont understand , they doing very well with their body why should they doing diet…

[@sunflowersandpotatoes]

They want to loose weight to fit the standards of athletes, and it’s really bad. They don’t usually choose to diet but it’s the mindset coaches or family or friends put them in.

[@Machtyn]

"It's estimated ten to fifteen percent of people will die." Actually, I think 100% of people will die. (Now before you go off on me for my jest, I'm making fun of the copy editor, not the mental illness.)

[@dom7585]

Not prince Charles