This blog post represents the author’s views and should not be interpreted as professional/medical advice or endorsed by NEDA.
For most of my life, I was fighting both in and out of the ring. As a professional boxer, I trained relentlessly, pushed my body to its limits, and chased the dream of becoming a world champion. But there was one fight I didn’t know how to win, and I was too ashamed to talk about it: my battle with an eating disorder.
Like a lot of young athletes, I was obsessed with making weight. From the moment I stepped into a boxing gym, I was taught that success depended on elite discipline, sacrifice, and mastering every aspect of my performance including strict adherence to my weight class. I did whatever it took—skipping meals, dehydrating myself, and taking pharmaceutical laxatives—all in pursuit of an arbitrary number on the scale. After years of this behavior, I started to recognize that I was dealing with an eating disorder, but I didn’t know how serious that could be. I’d spent years honing the discipline I needed as a professional athlete, so I thought I could manage this on my own. Meanwhile, my health, physical and mental, were rapidly deteriorating, all while my boxing career was thriving. I may have made it to the Olympics as a boxer, but still I showered in the dark for years to avoid looking at myself.
By 2018, my body had reached its limit. What should have been the biggest fight of my career – an opportunity against world champion Jose Ramirez – ended in a hospital room just hours before the bout. I was suffering from severe dehydration, the result of pushing my body beyond its breaking point. That moment forced me to step away from boxing. For the first time in years, I had to confront the reality that my relationship with food, weight, and my own body was completely broken.
The hardest part wasn’t just the physical toll. It was the isolation. Despite the fact that 6.6 million boys and men will have experienced an eating disorder in their lifetime, I didn’t see men talking about eating disorders, especially in sports. When I tried to get help, I felt like I was on an island. I tried everything—intensive outpatient programs, medical retreats, therapy, mindfulness, even a peer support group. I was desperate for answers, but recovery felt impossible when I didn’t have a roadmap. At treatment facilities and support groups, I didn’t see people who looked like me, male athletes struggling with the same demons.
It took me over a decade to get here, but today, I finally feel free. That doesn’t mean my relationship with food is perfect, but I’ve learned that healing is an ongoing process, not a destination. And now, I want to be the person I needed back then. Knowing that eating disorders carry the second highest mortality rate among mental health disorders, I’m one of the lucky ones to have made it out alive and I want to pay that forward for young athletes who might be struggling today.
That’s why I’ve started this new mission with DO Boxing Academy–a mobile enrichment program that empowers at-risk youth through non-contact fitness boxing, mindfulness, and yoga. Developed with input from licensed mental health clinicians, its whole-child development approach supports kids’ mental, emotional, physical, and social growth in an all-inclusive community. The program contracts with organizations and operates in diverse settings, such as youth detention centers, mental health facilities, nonprofits, and public schools, to expand its reach and impact. Through DO Boxing Academy, I’m working to ensure that young athletes and at-risk kids have the tools to build confidence, resilience, emotional regulation, and a strong sense of self before harmful habits and mindsets take hold.
This mission brings my vision to life by providing fitness and mindfulness programs that help kids develop a healthy relationship with both their minds and bodies. I want to be a voice for other athletes, especially men, who feel like they have to suffer in silence. And I want to shed light on the dangerous, normalized weight-cutting practices that too many of us endure without questioning their long-term impact.
Organizations like NEDA are a game-changer in this fight. I wish I had known about NEDA’s incredible community and the resources they offer like their confidential screening tool before I got to my lowest. Eating disorders don’t just look one way or affect one type of person, and early intervention is critical to help people avoid the pain I experienced. If you’re unsure whether your habits around food and weight are healthy, take a few minutes to check in with yourself. It could be the first step toward a fight worth winning.
If my story resonates with you, I hope you know you’re not alone. And if you need someone to talk to, I’m here.
Resources
Are you concerned you might be struggling with an eating disorder? Take our confidential screening tool.
Are you looking for an eating disorder treatment provider? Find treatment in your area or online.
Are financial barriers preventing you from seeking the support you need? Learn more about free and low cost support options to connect with others and provide tools to promote recovery.
Danny O’Connor is a world-class athlete, former U.S. Olympic Team member, and WBC International Champion, whose career in boxing has placed him among the sport’s elite. A National Golden Gloves Champion, U.S. Nationals Champion, and globally ranked professional fighter, O’Connor amassed an outstanding 31 professional wins, competing on the world’s biggest stages, including Showtime, ESPN, CBS Sports, and Fox Sports 1. His precision, resilience, and championship mindset have solidified his legacy as one of the top competitors in combat sports.
Beyond his success in the ring, O’Connor has fought even greater battles overcoming adversity from a troubled youth to the highest levels of professional sport. As someone who experienced firsthand the physical, mental, and emotional toll of elite athletics, he has become a leading advocate for mental health, eating disorder awareness in men, and the dangers of extreme weight-cutting in combat sports. With his deep expertise in trauma-informed care, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and high-performance resilience, O’Connor now uses his platform to educate, inspire, and drive change at the highest levels.
In addition to his advocacy, O’Connor is the founder of the D O Boxing Academy, a youth enrichment program that is expanding into communities around the world. The program empowers young people with tools for self-discipline, confidence, and emotional strength, using boxing as a vehicle for personal growth. As a keynote speaker, O’Connor delivers powerful talks on resilience, mental health, and overcoming adversity, sharing his journey to inspire others. His mission is clear: to break the stigma, reshape the culture, and champion the well-being of people from all walks of life, helping them find strength in their own journeys.
Follow Danny’s journey:
Instagram: @therealdannyoconnor
