What Eating Disorder Recovery for Runners Looks Like Now

“My participants yelled that loud and clear in studies,” says Jessyca Arthur-Cameselle, associate professor of sport and exercise psychology and co-director of the Center for Performance Excellence at Western Washington University. She’s been studying collegiate and older athletes who have experienced eating disorders (EDs) since 2007. In fact, they ask her to be sure to share what they say: “Hey athletes, you can recover. Please tell athletes it is possible, even if you feel bad right now.” She points to studies showing the progress people have made after treatment, some results even matching control groups who’ve never had an ED. She’s also witnessed full recoveries in her role as a clinician.