Winning At All Costs: Breaking the Silence on Athletes and Eating Disorders

Winning at All Costs: Breaking the Silence on Eating Disorders and Athletes helps coaches and athletes at middle school, high school, college and competitive levels learn about the risks of eating disorders, energy imbalance, orthorexia and RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports); and provides guidance on proper fueling for sports.
Hear from 2x Olympian and Licensed Professional Counselor Holly Brooks; Ben W., a former wrestler who experienced bulimia; Susan Bick, a competitive college athlete whose eating disorder derailed her running career, but allowed her to be an empathetic coach; Yolanda Evans, MD, MPH, who specializes in adolescent medicine and eating disorders; and Jessie Diggins, Olympic gold medalist in cross country skiing, who shares the advice she would now give to her 16 year old self.
It might be surprising to some to learn that not only are women at risk for eating disorders, but so are men, LGBTQ+ athletes, BIPOC individuals and other marginalized groups. This video tells about anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, and orthorexia; and explores "poodle science," which explains why we can't all fit one particular body type. This documentary is recommended for middle school, high school, and college students and athletes; as well as professional athletes and coaches.
The video is produced by the Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance, www.akeatingdisordersalliance.org

[@carlamoore7761]

I was a gymnast at 11. By 12 I was bulimic. It was 1973. I went from 115lbs to 83lbs. I received so much praise. No one helped me. At 16 I had my first root canal. I can still remember the dental assistant saying to the dentist… She’s so young to be having to endure this. No one understood or knew the shame of this disorder. I’m now 61. I still struggle. We need programs like this. We need people to help us. We need the world to understand this disorder. Thank you Holly

[@mamajama1215]

Omg I just want to give high school Susan Bick the biggest hug... 😭 Thank you Holly for sharing this message! I remember getting identified as fat in elementary school, and adults encouraging me "getting healthy" through weight loss. Even when I was underweight in high school and college, I mentally carried that identity of being overweight. In my late 30s, I have a plus body and participate in ultra endurance bike races.
Sometimes I still struggle with feeling like a "real" athlete, but through years of affirmation and training groups, I can also tell myself that my body is capable of amazing things. I'm so thankful for the training (shout out to Alaskan bada** coaches Lisa Keller, Larrell Paterna and Janice Tower!) and friends who've never treated my size as a limitation for setting big goals.

[@tonisparrow7657]

This is a video that should be shown at every first practice. It shines light into the dark spaces of eating disorders, offering athletes and coaches healthy ways to talk and think about food and body image. It's also part of a larger dialogue about re-humanizing sports, placing a person's humanity before their athletic achievements. A big thanks to Holly Brooks, Dr. Yolanda Evans, Susan Bick, Ben, and Jessie Diggins for bravely and truthfully contributing to very important work. Your big hearts make all the difference.

[@brooksha1]

Toni, thank you so much for your thoughtful comments - they are much appreciated. And yes, that would be a dream for this to be shown at the beginning of each season, for ALL sports! This issues do not discriminate!