title: Female athlete experiences of seeking and receiving treatment for an eating disorder.
abstract: Clinical eating disorders are common among athletes; however research has yet to explore the process of seeking and receiving treatment for an eating disorder in this population. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 female athletes currently receiving treatment for an eating disorder. A total of three themes emerged: challenges to treatment seeking, feeling out of place, and coping with exercise transitions. Athletes reported low levels of eating disorder literacy and lacked motivation to engage with therapy due to a lack of perceived relevance. Athletes found it challenging to relinquish exercise behaviours in treatment and expressed concerns around managing a return to sport. It may be necessary to provide additional support to athletes when embarking on and leaving treatment programs, particularly with regards to managing expectations about exercise.
authors.affiliation: a National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine , Loughborough University , Loughborough , UK.
authors.forename: Carolyn R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Plateau
authors.affiliation: b Leicester Adult Eating Disorders Service, Bennion Centre , Glenfield Hospital , Leicester , UK.|c Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences , University of Nottingham , Nottingham , UK.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arcelus
authors.affiliation: a National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine , Loughborough University , Loughborough , UK.|d The Barberry, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation NHS Trust, Egbaston , Birmingham , UK.
authors.forename: Newman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: e WMG and Warwick Medical School , University of Warwick , Coventry , UK.|f University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust , Coventry , UK.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult