For young athletes, the mental game is often about confidence, focus, resilience and staying present under pressure. But eating issues can quietly consume that mental space, affecting an athlete’s focus, confidence, identity and performance.
Eating-disorders dietitian Adee Levinstein said that athletes face constant messages about nutrition, exercise, body image and performance. “There’s just a lot of messages happening from all directions. So it can get really confusing,” she said.
Athletes who want an edge may begin to hyperfocus on specific diets or nutrition rules. While some recommendations can improve performance, Levinstein cautioned that taking them to extremes can cause both physical and psychological harm.
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