133: Eating Disorders in Athletes

Female Athlete Nutrition

In this episode of the Female Athlete Nutrition, I talk with counseling and sport psychologist Dr Riley Nickols. Dr Nickols specializes in helping athletes with eating disorders, and in this conversation, we discuss this topic in depth. Dr Nickols and I cover the differences between eating disorders in athletes versus non-athletes, the fine line between healthy training and nutrition practices and disordered exercise and eating, and factors that make athletes more susceptible to eating disorders. Dr Nickols emphasizes the prevalence of disordered eating in male athletes as well as females, and the importance of early detection and diagnosis in this population. Eating disorders are illnesses, but unlike physical health problems, athletes often hide symptoms and don’t seek help, so it is vital those around them recognize potential red flags.

Dr Nickols shares the work he does on the advisory boards of NEDA and EDCare, helping educate medical providers and athletic staff on eating disorders. He also speaks about his private practice, Mind Body Endurance, where he and his team provide athletes support for their mental health, sport performance, eating, and nutritional concerns. Riley offers services both virtual and in-person in St Louis, MO, and you can find out more at https://mindbodyendurance.com/. We finish off with our usual end of the podcast questions and chat about our shared love of running.

For more on Dr Nickols, check out her website https://mindbodyendurance.com/

Follow Dr Nickols on Instagram @mindbodyendurance and me, your host Lindsey Cortes, @female.athlete.nutrition

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In this episode we talk about:

3:15 Finding sports psychology as an injured athlete navigating uncertainty and changing athletic identity

6:25 Riley’s career trajectory to working with athletes with eating disorders

11:30 Eating disorders in athletes vs non-athletes

16:45 How healthy are athletes really? High performance training vs disordered exercise

24:30 Eating disorders in male athletes

30:30 Recognizing and helping athletes with disordered eating

35:25 Working with NEDA and EDCare: educating and training providers

39:00 Riley’s private practice, Mind Body Endurance, providing sport psychology and eating disorder services to athletes

42:45 End of the podcast questions