Eating and weight

Many athletes struggle with issues of eating and weight management, especially those in sports where thinness, appearance or weight are critical to peak performance. Traditionally, these problems have been more common for female athletes, though in recent years it has been increasingly recognised that many male athletes also struggle with issues of eating and weight.

For some, difficulties with the control of eating lead to more serious complications, such as the restriction of food intake to keep weight down, or bingeing and inducing vomiting.

However, even apparently "mild" eating problems can cause significant distress, and can interfere with an athlete's ability to perform at his or her best. If left untreated, eating difficulties can become progressively more severe, affecting both sporting performance and general daily living.

Clinical psychologists can assist athletes with these problems to regain control of their eating and weight.