Women's Football Hub

Editor – Carolyn Kent women’s football hub

Disordered eating in women’s football is a topic that is often discussed quietly, if at all. Yet, as Dr Carly Perry shared in this episode, it is far more common than many people realise and often misunderstood. For coaches, practitioners, and players, understanding what it is, why it happens, and how to respond is essential for both wellbeing and performance.

Disordered Eating vs Eating Disorders

One of the most important starting points is understanding the difference between disordered eating and a clinically diagnosed eating disorder.

Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder are diagnosed conditions that meet specific clinical criteria. Disordered eating, on the other hand, exists on a broader spectrum. It can include behaviours like restricting calories, cutting out food groups, or feeling the need to earn food through performance.

While eating disorders are less common, disordered eating is much more prevalent among women athletes, with estimates ranging widely, in some cases up to nearly half of participants. This distinction matters because the support required is different. A player with disordered eating may continue training while receiving support, whereas an eating disorder may require more intensive intervention and potentially time away from the sport.

The Behaviours That Often Get Missed

What makes disordered eating particularly challenging is that it can look like discipline. In high performance environments, behaviours such as strict tracking, controlling food intake, or avoiding certain foods can be normalised.

Some common patterns seen in women’s football include:

• Restricting food during periods of injury
• Only eating when a player feels they have earned it through playing time
• Removing entire food groups, such as carbohydrates
• Obsessive tracking of food, weight, or body composition
• Avoiding social situations to maintain control over eating

Individually, these behaviours may seem harmless or even performance driven. But when combined over time, they can lead to both physical and psychological harm.

The Role of Injury and Control

Injury is a key moment of vulnerability. When a player is sidelined, they often lose a sense of control over their performance and progress. Food and body weight can then become the one area they feel they can influence.

Dr Perry highlighted that for some players, controlling food intake becomes a way to maintain an identity as an athlete. In a period where they cannot win on the pitch, they try to win through discipline elsewhere. This is not about poor decision making. It is about the environment and the pressures that shape behaviour.

Pressure, Culture, and the Modern Game

Women’s football has evolved rapidly, bringing increased professionalism, visibility, and scrutiny. While this growth is positive, it also introduces new pressures.

Some of the key risk factors include:

• Increased competition and performance pressure
• Greater use of monitoring tools such as weigh ins and body composition testing
• Limited resources or support alongside these demands
• Social media exposure and public scrutiny
• Financial pressure to secure sponsorships

Social media plays a particularly complex role. Players may feel the need to maintain a certain appearance to attract opportunities, while also being exposed to criticism and abuse. For many, it creates a constant tension between performing and presenting.

When Performance Improves Before It Declines

One of the more difficult aspects to navigate is that disordered eating can sometimes appear to “work” in the short term.

Players might feel lighter, quicker, or more focused, and this can reinforce the belief that their behaviour is helping performance. However, this is often followed by declines in energy, recovery, sleep, and overall health. In more severe cases, it can lead to injuries such as stress fractures and long term health consequences.

This short term gain and long term cost creates a dangerous cycle, especially in environments where immediate performance is prioritised.

What Coaches and Staff Need to Notice

For coaches, identifying disordered eating is not always straightforward. In fact, some of the players who appear the most committed and disciplined may be the ones struggling.

Signs to look for include:

• Sudden changes in eating habits or body weight
• Increased anxiety around food or meals
• Avoidance of team meals or social events
• Rigid routines around eating or exercise
• Frequent body checking or comparison

However, Dr Perry emphasised that coaches cannot and should not carry this responsibility alone. Having clear processes, education, and access to support staff such as psychologists or nutritionists is crucial.

Even in environments without extensive resources, having a clear point of contact and a plan for raising concerns can make a significant difference.

The Power of Team Culture

Team culture plays a major role in shaping behaviour. What is normalised within a squad often becomes accepted, even when it is harmful.

Teammates can influence each other both positively and negatively. Conversations about food, body image, and performance matter. A culture that promotes balance, openness, and support can help reduce risk.

Equally, silence or negative language can reinforce harmful habits. As one example from the research showed, entire teams can begin to normalise restrictive behaviours without questioning them.

Supporting Players the Right Way

So what does a supportive environment actually look like?

It starts with psychological safety. Players need to feel that they can speak openly about stress, pressure, or struggles without fear of judgment or consequences.

Practical steps include:

• Avoiding comments about players’ bodies or food choices
• Focusing on performance and wellbeing rather than appearance
• Providing clear education around nutrition and monitoring practices
• Ensuring players understand why data is being collected
• Creating a single, trusted point of contact for wellbeing concerns

Perhaps most importantly, it involves recognising that players are people first. They bring their full lives into sport, not just their performance.

This blog was made from the original podcast with AI and then fully checked for clarity by the podcast host