When Eating Challenges Undermine an Athlete’s Mental Game

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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Patrick Cohn Owner and Founder
Kids Sports Psychology expert Patrick Cohn, Ph.D. has helped athletes for over 40 years to enhance their performance. Dr. Cohn earned a master's degree in sports psychology from CSUF and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, specializing in Applied Sports Psychology. Today, he is the president and founder of Peak Performance Sports, LLC in Orlando, Florida. He’s worked with athletes and teams for over 40 years including the Miami Dolphins, NASCAR winners, NHL, and NFL Players, Olympians, National Motocross Champions, as well as PGA Tour professional golfers.

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