When Your Teen Athlete Has an Eating Disorder: How Family-Based Treatment (FBT) Can Help Them Recover and Return Stronger

December 4, 2025

Your Athletic Teen Is Struggling with an Eating Disorder—Now What?

If your child is an athlete, they’re probably used to pushing their limits. Discipline, focus, and physical performance are likely a big part of their identity. So when a teen athlete develops an eating disorder, it can feel especially disorienting—for them, and for you as their parent.

You might wonder:

Isn’t this just part of the pressure of sports?
Shouldn’t my child want to recover on their own?
Do I really need to step in, or should I leave it to professionals?

Here’s the truth: your child can’t recover alone. That’s where Family-Based Treatment (FBT) comes in.

Why FBT Is the Recommended Treatment for Teen Athletes with Eating Disorders

FBT is the leading evidence-based treatment for adolescents with eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia. It’s backed by decades of research and recommended as the first-line approach for medically stable teens.

What makes FBT different is this: parents—not the therapist—take the lead in restoring their child’s health. That may sound intimidating, but you don’t have to go it alone. Therapists provide expert guidance and support while you take daily action to help your teen recover.

This approach is especially effective for athletes, who often need clear boundaries, structured recovery, and a strong support system to re-establish their physical and mental health.

How FBT Helps Teen Athletes Recover and Return to Sport Safely

Here’s what FBT looks like in action:

You temporarily take control of all food decisions. You ensure your child eats enough to restore weight, nutrition, and energy.
Exercise is paused—even for competitive athletes. This is essential until their body is strong enough to safely resume activity.
The eating disorder is separated from your child. You fight the illness, not your child, who may be fearful, resistant, or ambivalent.
You work as a team with your therapist, who supports your role as the leader in your child’s recovery.

As your child’s health improves, you gradually return control to them, including choices about food and physical activity.

The goal? Restore full health and a safe, sustainable return to the sport they love.

Why Athletes Are at Higher Risk—and Need More Parental Support

Athletes, especially in sports where leanness is emphasized (like gymnastics, running, dance, or wrestling), face unique risks:

High pressure to maintain a certain body shape
Intense training schedules
Cultural norms that reward “discipline” at any cost
Misleading beliefs that thinner means faster, better, or stronger

These factors can lead to under-eating, over-training, and, eventually, full-blown eating disorders—even in high-functioning, high-achieving kids.

And because athletes are often seen as “healthy” or “fit,” symptoms can go unnoticed longer.

That’s why parental involvement is not optional—it’s essential.

FBT Helps You Become Your Teen’s Strongest Ally

FBT isn’t about blame. It’s about mobilizing the most powerful resource your child has: YOU.

As a parent, you have the power to:

Create structure around meals and rest
Stop unsafe behaviors like compulsive exercise
Support emotional regulation during difficult moments
Rebuild your child’s trust in food, their body, and themselves

Many parents fear they’re “doing it wrong” or that they don’t know enough. But FBT therapists are there to guide you; research shows that parental confidence in this process leads to better outcomes.

What Recovery Might Look Like for Your Teen Athlete

At first, recovery may involve stopping all physical activity. This can be heartbreaking for a teen who loves their sport—but it’s also temporary.

With FBT, you’ll help your child:

Regain strength and energy
Restore weight and nutritional balance
Re-establish normal sleep and mood patterns
Improve academic focus and emotional regulation
Return to sport only when their body is ready—and with healthier habits

Early recovery is about saving your child’s health. Long-term recovery is about returning to their passions with confidence and resilience.

Common Concerns from Parents of Athletes in FBT

“My child doesn’t want to stop training—what if they fall behind?”

Taking a break now prevents long-term damage and allows for a true comeback later. Continuing to train while malnourished increases injury risk, slows performance, and delays healing.

“Won’t this ruin their relationship with food or exercise?”

FBT actually improves your child’s long-term relationship with food, body image, and movement by breaking the grip of the eating disorder and restoring health first.

“How do I know when it’s safe for them to go back to sports?”

Return to activity is coordinated with your FBT therapist and medical team based on specific health markers—not pressure from coaches or timelines.

Recovery Is a Team Effort—and You’re the Captain

You know how much your child loves their sport. You know their drive, their routines, their strengths—and now, you also know that their life and future depend on recovery.

FBT gives you the tools to lead your child through this storm. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about showing up, staying steady, and refusing to let the eating disorder win.

Getting Started with FBT

If your teen athlete is struggling with an eating disorder, early intervention matters. The sooner you begin FBT, the greater the chance of full recovery and a safe return to sport.

Here’s how to start:

Find an FBT-trained therapist with experience treating adolescents and eating disorders, such as the ones at Fueling for Recovery.
Assemble a team, including your pediatrician, therapist, and dietitian.

Commit to the process—even when it’s hard. Trust that what feels hard now is laying the foundation for your child’s freedom and future.

Final Thought: You Are Not Alone—and Your Child Can Recover

Watching your teen athlete battle an eating disorder is heartbreaking. But there is hope.

With Family-Based Treatment, you don’t have to sit on the sidelines. You can lead the charge. With support, structure, and a firm belief in your child’s strength—and your own—you can help them reclaim their health, their identity, and their future.

The eating disorder doesn’t get the final say. You do. If you’re looking for support or questioning whether FBT would be the right fit for your family, contact us with your questions or to schedule an appointment at 202-738-4726 or info@fuelingforrecovery.com. You can also schedule an appointment directly through the following link.