When the Body Says No: Medically Retiring an Athlete Due to an Eating Disorder

Authored by Mandy Kryzsiak, MSS Candidate and The Understory Group Intern

As a social work intern, one of the most challenging conversations I have isn’t about broken bones or torn ligaments—it’s about something less visible but just as devastating: eating disorders. 

For many athletes, sport is not just an activity; it’s a part of their identity. The pressure to perform, the expectations around body size and shape, and the relentless drive to push through discomfort can make it difficult to recognize when something is wrong. And when an eating disorder takes hold—regardless of an athlete’s size, weight, or sport—it can put them at serious medical risk, sometimes leading to the difficult decision of stepping away from competition for their health. 

The Misconceptions of Eating Disorders in Athletes 

When people hear "eating disorder," they often think of someone who is underweight and visibly malnourished. But eating disorders impact athletes of all sizes, shapes, and sports. I have seen: 

•Endurance athletes who severely restrict their intake, leading to chronic energy deficiency and overuse injuries. 

•Strength athletes who engage in binge eating or purging behaviors to manipulate their weight for competition.

•Athletes in all sports who struggle with compulsive exercise, unable to rest even when their body is breaking down. 

•Larger-bodied athletes who are overlooked or even praised for behaviors that are actually disordered, simply because they don’t "look sick." 

Eating disorders don’t have a single look. They don’t discriminate based on sport or body type. And their consequences—fatigue, heart issues, stress fractures, hormone imbalances, gastrointestinal distress, and psychological strain—can be severe no matter an athlete’s size. 

When Retirement Becomes the Best Option 

Athletes are taught to push through pain, to sacrifice for their sport. But when an eating disorder takes hold, continuing to compete can become a long-term health risk. As a social work intern (and a member of a collaborative treatment team with a Dietitian and internal medicine doctor), there are certain red flags that may indicate an athlete needs to medically retire, at least temporarily: 

•Repeated injuries that won’t heal, such as stress fractures or muscle strains.

•Irregular or missing menstrual cycles in AFAB athletes, a sign of hormonal disruption. 

•Severe gastrointestinal issues, such as bloating, constipation, or food intolerances due to prolonged disordered eating. 

•Dangerous heart rate fluctuations, dizziness, or fainting spells. 

•Uncontrollable binge-eating episodes followed by extreme guilt, restriction, or purging. 

•An inability to engage in sport without disordered behaviors, making true recovery impossible while continuing to compete.** 

When an athlete reaches this point, continuing to train and compete can do more harm than good. But for many, stepping away from their sport feels like losing a part of themselves. My role as a social work intern is to help them see that their health—both mental and physical—must come first. 

Having the Hard Conversation 

Telling an athlete they need to take a break, or even retire permanently, is never easy. Many are terrified of who they’ll be without their sport. Others worry about how coaches, teammates, or family will react. Some don’t believe they’re "sick enough" to need to stop. 

When I have this conversation, I focus on a few key points:

1. Their Body is Giving Them Warning Signs – I explain that these symptoms aren’t normal and won’t just go away with more training or better discipline. Ignoring them could lead to long-term damage. 

2. It’s Not About Weight, It’s About Health – I emphasize that eating disorders aren’t just about size. A body at any weight can be malnourished, overworked, or at risk. 

3. Retirement Isn’t Failure—It’s Choosing Recovery – Stepping away isn’t giving up. It’s making the decision to heal, so they can have a full, healthy life, whether that includes sport in the future or not. 

Beyond Sport: Finding Identity in Recovery 

For many athletes, the biggest fear of leaving their sport isn’t just losing competition—it’s losing who they are. But sport is only one part of a person’s identity. In my work, I’ve seen retired athletes become coaches, advocates, mentors, and leaders. I’ve seen them develop passions they never had time for before. And most importantly, I’ve seen them heal—physically, mentally, and emotionally—when they finally give their body the care it deserves. 

Retiring from sport due to an eating disorder is never easy. But choosing health is always the right decision. And no matter what, an athlete’s worth has never been defined by their performance—it has always been in who they are, beyond the game.