Disclaimer: This post is to highlight a program for athletes. LCWNS does not endorse any program.
Athletes are often praised for their commitment, focus, and determination; however, that same drive to compete at the highest level can sometimes come at a cost. While sports can build strength, confidence, and resilience, they can also contribute to unhealthy relationships with food and body image.
The Victory Program, a specialized treatment track within McCallum Place, is specifically designed for athletes struggling with eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). It offers multiple levels of care, from residential (24/7) to intensive outpatient (3 to 5 days per week), along with supportive transitional living options, ensuring care that evolves as athletes progress through each stage of treatment.
What sets the Victory Program apart is its sport-informed approach to eating disorder treatment. Rather than viewing athletic identity as a barrier, the program integrates it into the recovery process. Group therapies address common pressures athletes face, including performance anxiety, body image issues, and compulsive exercise, which are often heightened by the demands of their sport. These sessions provide a safe space for exploring challenges, developing coping strategies, and connecting with others who share similar experiences.
Instead of asking individuals to step away from their sport, the program helps them redefine their relationship with it. Physical performance and psychological well-being are seen not as competing interests, but as interconnected components of recovery. Experiential therapies, such as meal exposures and sport-based outings, allow athletes to apply recovery skills in real-world settings. Additionally, athletes have the opportunity to reintroduce and incorporate movement in a healthy way with the help of exercise physiologists and psychologists. These experiences help them build confidence and reinforce new ways of coping, while staying connected to the sport that often shapes their sense of self.
The Victory Program’s multidisciplinary team of sport-specialized dietitians, mental health professionals, fitness experts, and medical providers works collaboratively to deliver evidence-based, personalized care that aligns with the athlete’s goals and addresses their mental, emotional, and physical needs. With the athlete’s consent, the team also coordinates with coaches, athletic trainers, and other key members of the athlete’s external support network, ensuring a seamless transition back to sport.
Finally, the Victory Program supports athletes in sustaining their progress well beyond treatment. With a strong focus on individualized discharge planning, athletes leave equipped with practical strategies, real-world preparation, and the confidence to maintain long term recovery while continuing to engage in sport.
To learn more about the Victory Program, visit https://www.mccallumplace.com/programs-athletes/#:~:text=The%20Victory%20Program%20provides%20eating,performance%20and%20emotional%20well%2Dbeing.
