Starvation to get up faster: eating disorders while climbing – but nobody does anything

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Starve to get up the wall faster. Eating disorders are a growing problem in climbing. In protest for inaction, two sports doctors are now leaving the World Climbing Association.

The lighter the better

Body weight plays a crucial role in climbing. However, more and more athletes are controlling it in an unhealthy way. To maximize athletic performance, they keep their weight as low as possible.

This often leads to eating disorders. For example, the so-called Relative Energy Deficit Syndrome (RED-S). “In this syndrome, the energy expended no longer covers the total energy expenditure,” writes Swiss Olympic.

Due to malnutrition, those affected no longer have enough energy to cover all bodily functions. From increased susceptibility to injuries to menstrual cycle problems to psychological complaints – the consequences are fatal.

Doctors are leaving the world association

Professor Dr. Volker Schöffl and Eugen Burtscher, two renowned sports doctors, resigned from the medical committee of the International Sport Climbing Federation (IFSC) last week. They share the view that they can no longer accept the passivity of the association. “Sport climbing has a RED-S problem,” Schöffl says on social media.

The two doctors had tried to introduce an international program that would no longer allow unhealthy athletes to compete.

“We have been campaigning for years to ensure that underweight athletes are no longer allowed to participate in order not to further promote eating disorders.”

Responsibility for the national associations

The climbing association IFSC is now commenting on its website. The “protection of the well-being” of the athletes is the “primary goal”.

However, the IFSC points out that the proper support of the athletes is the responsibility of the National Federations. The association informed the general meeting about the risks of top sport and advised the members to pass this information on nationally.

There is already change at the international level. The minimum age to participate in the World Cups was 16 years. From 2025, only athletes aged 17 and older may start.

Source : Blick