Consider This from NPR

Leaner, lighter... lethal? Sport climbing's problem with eating disorders


Listen Later

Sport Climbing kicks off at the Olympics in Paris next week.

It's a strength-to-weight ratio sport. Meaning, aside from your technique or mental game, the lighter you are relative to your strength, the easier it'll be to get up a wall.

That's led some climbers to fall into the mindset that losing weight is the path to better performance.

One recent study of 50 elite climbers found that more than a third intentionally lost weight before a competition — primarily by fasting and skipping meals, and occasionally by using laxatives, or vomiting.

The mindset that lighter is better is what led one young climber, Jake Scharfman, to develop an unhealthy relationship with his weight.

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Email us at [email protected].

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Consider This from NPRBy NPR

  • 4.1
  • 4.1
  • 4.1
  • 4.1
  • 4.1

4.1

5,466 ratings


More shows like Consider This from NPR

View all
NPR News Now by NPR

NPR News Now

14,188 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

37,849 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,668 Listeners

The NPR Politics Podcast by NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast

25,782 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

110,567 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

55,899 Listeners

The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

9,500 Listeners

Today, Explained by Vox

Today, Explained

10,124 Listeners

What Next | Daily News and Analysis by Slate Podcasts

What Next | Daily News and Analysis

2,393 Listeners

Post Reports by The Washington Post

Post Reports

5,424 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

16,064 Listeners

Short Wave by NPR

Short Wave

6,217 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,397 Listeners

State of the World from NPR by NPR

State of the World from NPR

394 Listeners

Trump's Terms by NPR

Trump's Terms

373 Listeners