Body Image has become a serious issue in the sport world which has led to unhealthy food and exercise behaviors among athletes. One reason behind this is certain sports have a stereotypical “look” for athletes. For example, basketball players are expected to be tall and lean, wrestlers are expected to have big pronounced muscles, sprinters are expected to have muscular quads, and beach volleyball players are expected to have abs. . Many times when an athlete does not fit the stereotypical look of their sport, they start to dislike their body and believe there is something wrong with it that needs to be changed. Sports that do weigh-ins such as wrestling and football can also have these effects by pressuring an athlete to look a certain way. This can cause athletes to develop eating disorders or exercise in an unhealthy manner. It is important for parents and coaches to foster an environment with body positivity and healthy communication around body image. Teammates, parents, and coaches should also be on the lookout for any signs an athlete may be showing regarding negative body image.
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