[Disordered eating behaviors and eating disorders among athletes]

Eating behavior and its disorders in sport are closely related to the development of sports nutrition and exercise physiology, as well as to performance and body ideal expectations placed on athletes. Since the late 1970s, eating disorders have received increasing public health attention, which has also extended to athletic populations. The aim of this phenomenon-centered, thematic narrative literature review is to illustrate the forms and consequences of disordered eating behaviors and eating disorders in athletic populations across different sport contexts, based on international literature published between 1980 and 2000. Based on the reviewed studies, disordered eating behaviors and eating disorders are multifactorial origin, with biological, psychological, sociocultural, and sport-specific factors all playing a role in their development. The concept of the female athlete triad proved to be a milestone; however, the involvement of male athletes has also been confirmed, particularly in weight-class and aesthetic sports. However, it should be emphasized that athlete status in itself does not uniformly imply an increased risk. Primary prevention, early detection, and multidisciplinary care are fundamentally important in preserving athletes' health. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(19): 746-752.