FAREWELL cover image

FAREWELL

185 - The Mental Health of Endurance Athletes

Aug 23, 2023
The hosts discuss mental health in endurance athletes, including eating disorders and exercise addiction. They share personal strategies for dealing with sleep issues and reflect on the meaning of running. The chapter explores the ethics of performance-enhancing drugs and the importance of referencing research. They also speculate on athletes' attitudes towards aging and make a playful bet.
52:02

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Ultra endurance athletes may struggle with eating disorders, exercise addiction, depressive symptoms, and sleep disturbance.
  • The use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and human growth hormone (HGH) in older adults lacks sufficient evidence and carries risks and limitations.

Deep dives

Ultra endurance athletes and their psychological health

Ultra endurance athletes may appear healthy physically, but their psychological health can be concerning. Studies show that a significant percentage of ultra runners struggle with eating disorders, exercise addiction, depressive symptoms, and sleep disturbance. These findings challenge the notion that ultra endurance athletes are paragons of health and well-being.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode