The silent struggles of top female athletes around body image and eating disorders are more widespread than many realize, and it’s a conversation that needs urgent attention. But here’s where it gets controversial... While some see these issues as personal choices, others argue they stem from deeper cultural pressures within sports environments. And this is the part most people miss—how these pressures are deeply ingrained and often overlooked in the pursuit of excellence.
Consider Matilda Friend, an elite ice dancer who began her journey at just 8 years old. Her childhood dream was to reach the top echelons of her sport, and at her best, she was ranked 55th worldwide alongside her partner William Badaoui. She found the sport glamorous, full of sparkle and uniqueness, but behind her radiant smile and dazzling costumes, she grappled with a troubling body image.
Matilda constantly compared herself to her competitors, who appeared to be petite, slender, and delicate. She remembered thinking, "How can I make my body look like theirs?" This comparison was especially jarring because she had a more muscular build and was shorter. Her first encounter with the intense pressure came early—at age 11, during a two-month training stint in Moscow, where she noticed teammates hiding food to conceal what they considered unhealthy eating habits.
To fit in, she tried every trick at her disposal—wrapping bandages around her body beneath her tight training dresses to appear thinner, believing that her appearance directly impacted her scores and future success. Such pressures led her into disordered eating patterns—restricting food intake, binge eating, and skipping meals—behaviors common among athletes under stress to achieve or maintain a certain body shape.
Matilda describes how she would wake up at 5 am to train, then, after a long day at university or work, return home starving and exhausted, moments when she’d overindulge, foolishly thinking she’d ruined her entire day. This cycle of restrictive dieting and overeating is familiar to many athletes, yet it often goes unnoticed.
And she’s far from alone. Recent findings from the Elite Athletes in Australian Women’s Sport Survey—conducted collaboratively by ABC Sport and Deakin University—shed light on this pervasive issue. Out of 152 athletes from 47 different sports, startlingly, 27% reported negative feelings about their bodies, and nearly half (44%) have experienced some form of disordered eating, including clinical eating disorders.
Participants shared harrowing stories: one had periods of going days without eating due to pressure to look a certain way; another’s body image concerns led to poor performance and even the loss of a scholarship. Another described witnessing coaches openly criticize athletes' bodies and diets, highlighting how entrenched these unhealthy attitudes can be in competitive sports environments.
These alarming statistics are even higher than those reported by the Butterfly Foundation, which estimates that up to 17% of Australians may be affected by eating disorders or significant disordered eating symptoms. So why are athletes—both elite and recreational—particularly vulnerable?
Research from Western Sydney University's ASPIRE study, led by clinical psychologist Scott Fatt, explored this question by examining how body image issues and disordered eating influence athletes at the highest levels. Out of 238 participants, nearly 80% were found to be at risk of disordered eating behaviors. Fatt explains that athletes often experience this issue differently because they are subject to conflicting messages—what they need to look like as athletes versus what society deems attractive.
For example, a female basketball player may need to develop strength and muscle, but if she’s seen out in a dress, she might feel her physique doesn’t align with societal beauty standards, creating internal conflict. This tension can lead to feelings of discomfort in social settings where her athletic body feels at odds with societal expectations.
The problem extends beyond elite sports. A study from Edith Cowan University looked at recreational athletes' relationships with their bodies, exercise, and food. It found that half of those surveyed were concerned about their weight and body shape, emphasizing that these issues are widespread across all levels of participation, not just the elite.
Melanie Kawa, a rugby player for the Melbourne Rebels and Papua New Guinea, shared her own journey with disordered eating, which fluctuated depending on the season. It wasn’t until she received guidance from dietitians and strength coaches that she realized she’d been under-fueling throughout her career—an insight that could help improve athlete performance and well-being.
Scientific studies confirm that disordered eating is more prevalent among athletes than in the general population. But why? According to Scott Fatt, many factors contribute, including the high drive, perfectionist tendencies, and rigorous environments athletes often operate within. The culture of sports can normalize strict eating and exercise routines, making it difficult for athletes to recognize the need for healthier habits.
Interestingly, both Friend and Kawa note that proper nourishment not only supports physical health but significantly enhances athletic performance. Matilda observed improvements in her energy and skills when she focused on fueling her body correctly, contrasting with the damaging effects of weight-focused dieting.
Fatt advocates for a comprehensive overhaul within the sports community. He argues that communication around body image, appearance, and weight needs to change, emphasizing support and understanding rather than shame and punishment. Policies such as frequent weigh-ins or emphasizing appearance should be re-evaluated to foster healthier environments.
But here’s where the controversy is: Should society and sporting organizations prioritize athletes’ mental and physical health over aesthetic ideals and competitive performance? As discussions about body image become more open, it’s crucial we question whether current practices serve athletes’ best interests or whether they perpetuate harmful stereotypes. What do you think—are we doing enough to support athletes’ well-being, or are we still turning a blind eye to these pervasive issues? Share your thoughts in the comments!
