A former high school gymnast from Massachusetts shared his experiences with the pressures of competitive sports and the risk of eating disorders among male athletes in a story published on July 9. He described how rising expectations during his junior year led him to seek help from a sport psychologist, which allowed him to manage critical self-talk and ultimately improve his performance.
After earning an athletic scholarship to Ohio State University, where he contributed to two Big Ten Championships and a team national championship, he turned these lessons into a career as a sport psychologist. He said he now helps athletes facing similar challenges, particularly those who develop eating disorders. "It’s a problem I noticed during my own years as an athlete," he said.
He explained that in competitive sports, many athletes attempt to gain an edge through diet, sometimes leading to improper habits. "There’s a false belief that eating disorders are limited to women, but men can overdo their diet and exercise routines while in pursuit of the perfect body," he said. The speaker added that myths persist in sports like gymnastics about smaller size being better, while some men focus on gaining muscle and being lean at the same time—a difficult balance requiring expert guidance.
The article noted that eating disorders are more likely in sports where aesthetics matter, such as gymnastics or figure skating. It also highlighted under-diagnosis among men due to stereotypes and smaller numbers compared with women: "But roughly 1 in 3 people struggling with eating disorders is male, according to the National Eating Disorders Association." Influences contributing to these conditions include family dynamics, societal messages, genetics and interpersonal factors.
Treatment for eating disorders was outlined as progressing through four main levels: outpatient care once weekly; intensive outpatient care several days per week; partial hospitalization programs; and inpatient hospital-based care for medical stabilization before therapy begins. The speaker emphasized the importance of recognizing concerns early and seeking professional help specializing in eating disorder treatment.
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