Muscle dysmorphia is a much less known disorder but very similar to anorexia. It’s common amongst bodybuilders and “gym rats.” People that suffer from muscle dysmorphia become addicted to working out and are at the gym at least one or more times a day. Lifting turns into an obsession and not a healthy habit. They push until their muscles give out and a lot of them use performance enhancing drugs to make themselves bigger. Eating disorders aren’t all about being skinny with some it’s purging, others it’s staying skinny, and building insane amounts of muscle (Aubusson).
Kids who suffer from eating disorders typically have grade drops and lose interest in school. Children can go from loud, energetic, and happy to depressed, anti-social, and quiet. The pressure put on young kids to have good grades and being academically successful can sometimes be too much. Anorexics usually have the mind set of not caring about consequences and doing whatever they please despite how other people feel. This is often caused by depression and having no energy. This ties into school because it makes it hard for kids to focus and have the will to try. School can help kids from struggles in their personal life and it can also create mental obstacles in their lives (Harper and Hardman).
Eating disorders are dangerous but even more for athletes. Not only does it affect athletic performance, but it also affects your safety. Fatigue, lack of concentration, and slower reactions can worsen how well you do in your sport, but thinner bones and heart irregularities make it easier for serious injuries to occur. Your bones need to be strong, especially while you’re in a sport, and your musculokskeletal system needs to be in top condition. The more nutritional foods you eat, the better your performance will be and the more energy you’ll have (“Eating Disorders”).