What is a common eating disorder that affects female athletes?

Anorexia nervosa is a common eating disorder particularly associated with female athletes, primarily due to the cultural and societal pressures around body image, weight, and performance. In many sports, there is an emphasis on leanness and a specific body type, which can lead female athletes to adopt extreme dieting behaviors in pursuit of an idealized physique. This disorder is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, leading to self-imposed starvation and excessive weight loss.

Female athletes may be at a heightened risk for anorexia nervosa because of the competitive nature of their sports, which may valorize thinness. The psychological components of the sport can exacerbate the condition, influencing how they view food and their bodies. Complications from this eating disorder can significantly affect athletic performance, overall health, and well-being, highlighting the importance of addressing nutritional and mental health issues in sports medicine.

In contrast, the other options, such as osteoporosis, diabetes, and thyroid disorders, while they can certainly affect athletes, are not recognized as eating disorders. Osteoporosis is a bone density issue often resulting from lack of nutrition, particularly calcium and Vitamin D, rather than a direct eating disorder itself. Diabetes is a metabolic condition related to insulin regulation, and