Healthy Body Image in Student-Athletes

A child's relationship with food and their body is important to their mental health. Student-athletes face unique pressures around body image and exercise to perform well athletically.

Parents, caregivers and coaches can help student-athletes develop healthy relationships with food, exercise and their bodies, but it can be hard to know where to start. By providing support and guidance, you can foster an environment that promotes both physical and emotional well-being.

Supporting Athletes’ Nutrition

As caregivers and coaches, it is important to talk about food, growth and development in a way that promotes healthy eating and positive body image. Sometimes, student-athletes feel pressured to look a certain way or eat specific foods in order to stay competitive. This can lead to negative eating behaviors or body image issues.

Remind them that proper nutrition is essential for student-athletes to perform at their best, recover quickly and maintain overall health.

• Talk to your athlete about the impact of eating regularly throughout the day on things like mood, energy, concentration, and performance. This often looks like three meals and three snacks that include multiple food groups.
• Encourage the idea that all foods fit—avoid labeling foods as "good" or "bad" and refrain from encouraging the elimination of certain foods.
• Emphasize the importance of hydration before, during and after exercise.

Supporting a Healthy Relationship with Exercise

Maintaining a healthy relationship with their sport is crucial for student-athletes’ physical and mental well-being. Encouraging balanced training, adequate rest and positive self-talk helps athletes build confidence, prevent burnout and avoid injury. Parents, caregivers and coaches should foster an environment where exercise is seen as a tool for growth and enjoyment, rather than pressure or obligation.

• Help athletes understand that performance is determined by many factors, including genetics, good health and appropriate nutrition.
• Encourage athletes to listen to their bodies and take rest breaks when needed.
• Allow flexibility in their training schedule to accommodate other planned or unexpected events.
• Normalize changes in performance that may come with growing and changing bodies.
• Challenge rigidity around performance expectations, training plans or perfectionistic behaviors.

Supporting Positive Body Image

Encouraging athletes to appreciate their bodies for what they can do, rather than how they look, helps foster self-esteem and a healthy mindset. Adults play a crucial role in promoting body positivity by emphasizing effort, strength and skill over appearance.

• Challenge beliefs that a specific body size is associated with better performance.
• Remind athletes that their bodies are still growing and developing.
• Challenge unhelpful comparisons, like comparing their body to an adult, professional athlete.
• Avoid making comments about weight, body shape or size, or comparisons among athletes.
• Praise athletes for things beyond appearance, such as their effort, attitude or teamwork.

Signs of Disordered Eating or Exercise Behaviors in Athletes

Student-athletes are at a higher risk for disordered eating than their peers. Knowing the signs of disordered eating and exercise can help caregivers and coaches intervene early- which is one of the strongest predictors of recovery.

Physical symptoms include:

• Decreased energy, concentration, coordination or muscle function
• More frequent injuries with longer recovery times
• Weight loss, low heart rate, sensitivity to cold, dizziness or gastrointestinal (GI) issues

Emotional/behavioral signs include:

• Isolation, irritability, withdrawal or perfectionism
• Reduced food intake, dieting, rigidity around food choices
• Excessive exercise beyond what is required for the sport or difficulty with resting

If you are concerned about an athlete, it is important to consult with the athlete’s pediatrician, athletic trainer, or consider working with a dietitian and/or mental health professional.