The world of ski jumping is grappling with an issue that affects tens of thousands of Canadians. Some ski jumpers -- both men and women -- are falling victim to eating disorders in an effort to become more competitive.

Ski jumping gives a natural advantage to those who are lighter than their competitors. The less a ski jumper weighs, the longer they are likely to stay in the air and cover the greatest distance.

"In baseball, in football, maybe you try to take steroids. Here you try to be skinny. It's different," Johnny Lyons, an American ski jumper, told CTV News.

The desire to get a competitive edge by drastically losing weight can have grave results.

"About four years ago there was a German guy who had to be hospitalized a couple times because he was anorexic," said Canadian ski jumper Stefan Read.

As the Men's Continental Cup takes place in Whistler, B.C., this weekend, ski jumping officials told CTV News they've been trying to deal with the issue of eating disorders.

Two years ago the international ski federation took action. It's now a rule that jumpers must have at least a body mass index of 18.5. That's a measurement based on their height and weight.

If the BMI is any less than 18.5, the competitors are forced to use shorter skis -- a major disadvantage in the sport.

Some competitors say that the minimum BMI is still too low, and athletes should be encouraged to maintain an even healthier weight.

"I'd love to see the BMP up a kilo or two," said Brent Morrice of Ski Jump Canada. "I think it's the right thing to do."

With a report by CTV's Sarah Galashan