Why might a person dealing with an eating disorder need professional help? Eating disorders often may become a factor in poor sports performance. Eating disorders often may become a factor in poor sports performance., , , , Eating disorders may lead to severe emotional and physical problems. Eating disorders may lead to severe emotional and physical problems., , , , Eating disorders are problems some mentally ill people might develop. Eating disorders are problems some mentally ill people might develop. , , Eating disorders are not learned behavior, so they cannot be unlearned.