Why Do MDs Have Such a High Rate of Eating Disorders? Understanding the Risks Behind the White Coat

Physicians are trained to care for others—often at the expense of their own well-being. While society may view medical doctors (MDs) as the epitome of health, the reality is more complex. Studies have found that medical professionals are at increased risk for eating disorders, disordered eating behaviors, and body image distress.

But why? What makes one of the most highly educated, health-literate populations so vulnerable to these conditions?

This post explores the unique pressures, culture, and vulnerabilities within medicine that may contribute to eating disorders among physicians—and what we can do to change it.

The Data: How Common Are Eating Disorders in Physicians?

Research is still limited, due in part to stigma and underreporting, but available studies show concerning trends:

• A 2019 study published in Eating and Weight Disorders found higher-than-average levels of eating disorder symptoms among female medical students and residents, especially those in high-pressure specialties (Kinzl et al., 1999).

• A 2020 meta-analysis reported significant rates of orthorexia nervosa tendencies (an obsession with “clean” or “healthy” eating) among healthcare professionals, especially dietitians and physicians (Cena et al., 2019).

• Anecdotal and qualitative research indicates that perfectionism, stress, and identity suppression in medicine can serve as risk factors for disordered eating.

Top Reasons Physicians Are at Risk for Eating Disorders

1. High-Achieving, Perfectionistic Personality Traits

Many physicians share traits commonly linked to eating disorders, including:

• High internal standards

• Fear of failure

• Strong desire for control

• Self-criticism

These characteristics may help someone get into and succeed in medical school—but they can also feed eating disorder thoughts and behaviors, particularly under stress.

“Perfectionism is a well-established risk factor for both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.”
(Fairburn et al., 2003)

2. Extreme Stress and Burnout

Medical training and practice are physically and emotionally demanding. Long hours, night shifts, emotional trauma, and patient loss contribute to chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation—which can drive:

• Loss of appetite

• Emotional numbing

• Maladaptive coping mechanisms, including food restriction or binge-purge cycles

Chronic cortisol elevation has also been linked to dysregulated hunger cues, contributing to chaotic eating patterns.

3. Medical Culture of Self-Neglect and Stigma

Physician culture often rewards self-sacrifice. It’s not uncommon for doctors to:

• Skip meals

• Delay bathroom breaks

• Sleep less than 5 hours a night

• Avoid seeking help for physical or mental health struggles

There is often an unspoken belief that seeking help is a weakness. One study showed that almost 40% of physicians with mental health concerns didn’t seek care due to fear of licensure issues or stigma (Dyrbye et al., 2017).

4. Exposure to Weight Bias and Diet Culture in Medical Training

Despite increased awareness, medical education often reinforces:

• Weight-centric views of health

• Dieting as default health advice

• Fatphobia and appearance-based assumptions

Physicians are often taught to moralize food and weight, which can create internal conflict for those who struggle with body image or eating concerns—leading to internalized weight stigma and shame.

5. Pressure to “Look the Part”

The image of the physician as fit, polished, and in control can be oppressive. For some, there is pressure to:

• Maintain a “healthy” body size to appear credible

• Fit narrow beauty or gender norms

• Hide signs of physical or emotional distress

This may lead to restriction, compulsive exercise, or orthorexic tendencies, especially in women, nonbinary individuals, and gender-diverse providers who already feel scrutinized.

6. Disordered Eating Behaviors as Normalized

Among medical trainees, skipping meals, surviving on coffee, or restricting food during rounds can be viewed as a badge of honor. Over time, this normalization can:

• Blur the line between self-discipline and self-harm

• Suppress hunger cues and reinforce rigidity

• Mask early signs of eating disorders

Warning Signs Often Missed in Physicians

• Justifying restriction as “self-care” or “eating clean”

• Labeling emotional eating as weakness

• Exercising through illness or injury

• Shame around body changes (e.g., during pregnancy, after injury, or due to medication)

• Avoiding support or minimizing distress

What Needs to Change?

1. Reform Medical Education

• Integrate education on eating disorders, weight stigma, and body image

• Train physicians in weight-inclusive, trauma-informed care

• Challenge outdated BMI-based screening methods

2. Destigmatize Help-Seeking

• Protect physician privacy when seeking mental health treatment

• Encourage supervisors and institutions to model vulnerability and self-care

• Normalize therapy, peer support, and supervision

3. Create Space for Embodied Health

• Promote intuitive eating, rest, and nervous system regulation

• Make healthcare spaces safer for providers in all body sizes

• Support physicians in separating their value from their productivity or appearance

Final Thoughts: Healing Under the White Coat

Being a physician doesn’t make you immune to pain. In fact, it may make you more vulnerable to silent suffering—especially in a system that rewards perfection, self-denial, and image over authenticity.

But you are not alone. Physicians deserve the same care, compassion, and evidence-based treatment they offer others. You are allowed to eat. You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to heal.

And your value has nothing to do with your weight, your discipline, or your ability to appear fine.

References

• Kinzl, J. F., et al. (1999). Eating behavior and weight concerns in female students of medicine. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 26(4), 435–439.

• Cena, H., et al. (2019). The symptomatology of orthorexia nervosa: A systematic review. Eating and Weight Disorders, 24(3), 209–246.

• Dyrbye, L. N., et al. (2017). Physicians' and medical students' reluctance to seek mental health care. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 92(10), 1487–1495.

• Fairburn, C. G., Cooper, Z., & Shafran, R. (2003). Cognitive behavior therapy for eating disorders: A “transdiagnostic” theory and treatment. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 41(5), 509–528.