Why Don't You Lose 5 Pounds?

Eating disorders are the deadliest of all mental illnesses. They affect far more athletes than concussions, yet they rarely receive the same urgency or visibility. Often dismissed as secondary to physical injuries, eating disorders are especially stigmatized when linked to less visible or traditionally "feminine" sports — even though they affect athletes of all types, in every sport. The problem is a hard one to talk about. Conversations force us to confront the standards for body image in competition. These disorders challenge our cultural ideals of the elite athlete. They force us to reckon with the pressures of body image, perfectionism, and performance that are embedded in sport itself.

Why Don’t You Lose 5 Pounds? is a different kind of sports movie. It immerses viewers in the intimate, often invisible battles athletes face with eating disorders. Like any great sports story, it’s about striving, setbacks, and resilience. In this documentary, the drive that once fueled Rachael, Akoray, Sammy and Joe’s illness must now propel them toward recovery. And victory will mean something new for each of them.