Supporting Positive Body Image in Sport
Participating in sport promotes a healthy, active lifestyle that can last a lifetime. However, girls and women tend to participate less than their male counterparts, and confidence, self-esteem, and body image issues can contribute to higher dropout rates.
For Athletes:
Understanding the Female Athlete Triad
Learn about the health issues linked to female athletes—nutrition, energy availability, and bone health—and how maintaining a positive body image is part of overall well-being.
For Coaches & Parents
Be a Positive Influence
Coaches play a crucial role in shaping athlete confidence and self-esteem. By promoting body positivity, you help create a safe, supportive environment where athletes can thrive.
Helpful Resources for Coaches:
Promoting Body Confidence in Sport: Tools for Coaches
Canadian Women & Sport, in partnership with Laureus, Dove, and Nike, is offering a new Body Confident Sport program to support Canadian sport and recreation leaders. Research indicates that body dissatisfaction affects 15% of adolescent girls and can limit their participation.
The free Body Confident Sport program provides coaches with resources to create body-positive environments through:
- Body Confident Coaching: a self-guided online program for coaches.
This program will equip sport leaders with the knowledge, tools, and inspiration to help girls and gender-diverse youth feel more comfortable in their bodies while staying active in sport
Dive deeper with the Body Confidence in Sport Webinar featuring Dr. Eva Pila for actionable advice and strategies to create a positive and safe sport environment!
Supporting Mental Health:
If you’re concerned about an athlete’s mental health or body image, explore these free resources:
- BC Government’s Body Image & Eating Disorders Resource Page — information on support services from treatment to education.
• National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) — 24/7 toll-free helpline and online chat.
If you’re worried about someone:
Visit the BC Government webpage on body image or call toll-free at 1-866-NEDIC-20. For immediate concerns, contact the helpline at 1-416-340-4156.
Educational Resources
Rallying for Girls’ Body Confidence: Designing Sport with Girls in Mind
This Rally Report from Canadian Women & Sport highlights the importance of body confidence for girls in sport and offers actionable strategies for organizations, coaches, and administrators. It recommends training coaches in gender equity, consulting athletes when creating uniform policies, and prioritizing efforts to support girls’ well-being. Read the full report to learn how to create a better, safer sport system that helps girls thrive!
Take a Look at the Long-Term Effects
The harmful cycle of negative body image and disordered eating in sport doesn’t end after adolescence. It can have lasting impacts on athletes’ mental and physical health well into retirement, affecting their self-esteem, relationship with food, and overall well-being. Understanding these potential long-term effects underscores the importance of promoting body positivity and supportive environments from a young age.
Understanding Coaches’ Views on Body Image in Girls’ Sport
This research shows that while many coaches are aware of body image concerns among girl athletes, they often lack the training to address these issues effectively. Left unaddressed, these beliefs can contribute to disordered eating, low self-esteem, and decreased participation. It highlights the urgent need for more education and systemic support to foster a healthier, more inclusive sport environment.
Key Strategies to Promote Body Image in Sport
To create a positive environment, coaches can focus on role modeling healthy attitudes, using inclusive language, and emphasizing body function and skills over appearance. Increasing awareness of diverse body types in uniforms and media, and promoting positive, non-judgmental conversations are essential to helping athletes build confidence and feel valued for who they are.
Using Mindful Self-Compassion to Improve Body Image
Research shows that mindful self-compassion programs like “Bodies in Motion” can help female athletes reduce their internalization of thin appearance ideals and develop a more positive body image. Equipping athletes with these psychological tools can help them better navigate harmful societal pressures and separate their self-worth from appearance.
SIRC: Understanding How Body Image Shapes Sport Performance
This article highlights Dr. Catherine Sabiston’s work on the significant impact of body image on athletes, particularly for youth. Negative body image can lower confidence, impair performance, and increase athlete dropout rates. Small changes can make a big difference, such as:
- Coaches: Eliminate weight-based comments and create a space for athletes to feel heard.
- Administrators: Offer uniform options for comfort and functionality and design training spaces mindful of body image.
- Athletes: Shift focus from appearance to skill and strength, practice self-compassion, and limit exposure to body scrutiny.
Dive deeper into Dr. Sabiston’s expertise with this insightful podcast episode, where she explores each aspect of the research, practical solutions, and empowering messages in greater detail.
