Playing sports shapes psychophysical well-being of athletes in different ways, but exposure to numerous pressures in sports environments leads to unwanted, and for athletes unhealthy behavior patterns, beliefs and habits, largely related to eating habits. The aim of this study was to examine the presence of symptoms of eating disorders among athletes and establish sports-specific risk factors for developing the mentioned disorders. The study included 287 students of first and second year of undergraduate and first year of graduate study of the Faculty of Kinesiology in Zagreb, of which were 210 men and 77 women ranging in age from 18 to 29 years. The results showed that there are no gender differences in the symptomatology of eating disorders, while elevated results stand out in athletes that are in category of endurance sports. Athletes at high risk for developing eating disorders, compared to the low risk group, have more prominent desire for thinness to improve athletic performance, pronounced maladaptive perfectionism and they experience more unpleasant experiences because of negative coaching behaviors. Sports-specific factors (desire for thinness to improve athletic performance, maladaptive perfectionism, negative coaching behaviors) explain the variance in eating disorder symptoms. The desire for thinness to improve athletic performance, as well as maladaptive perfectionism, has a partial mediation effect on the relationship of negative feedback from coaches and symptoms of eating disorders. The results highlight the need to pursue the issue of deviating feeding in sporting population and underscore the importance of the role of the coach.