Overcoming poor body image as an athlete
Sources’ names have been changed for anonymity.
Taking part in athletic activities can be empowering, stress-relieving, and provide individuals with a sense of community. By participating in sports, athletes learn about what it means to be a part of something greater than themselves.
As a runner, the sport provides me with an opportunity to display my hard work through countless hours of training during daily practices. I also find solace within the respect and love my teammates have for each other. We endure the pain of our sport together, cheer loudly for each other at meets, and actively engage in bonding activities like team dinners when we aren't on the track.
But, during my freshman year of high school, running became more than an after-school hobby. It turned into a constant competition. I felt that I was no longer simply competing against students at other schools, but with myself.
This mindset significantly affected my self-esteem, and in turn, my relationship with food and exercise.Who was the best runner on the team? How could I become more like them? What did I have to change about myself to improve? I believed I had to eat like them, train like them, and shrink my body to be the best runner possible.
For many athletes who suffer from disordered eating and exercising behaviors, the focus is not only on their body, but the enduring belief that weighing less will allow them to move faster, resulting in better performance.
However, if an athlete fails to consume enough nutrients, their bodily health will suffer. Catabolism, a biological process in which the body breaks down muscle tissue in order to stay alive, is the most severe type of malnutrition. Catabolism can cause infertility, hormone-related complications, and even death.
Body-conscious sports like running, dancing, and swimming heavily influence the way athletes perceive themselves.
For dancers, there is a very set particular body that a lot of teachers and the dance community hold a participant to. Because of this, a large amount of pressure is put on young dancers to maintain a lean physique. This results in body-image issues starting at a young age.
“We constantly look in mirrors and critique our bodies,” said Olivia, a high school junior. “Not only in the way it looks, but in the way it performs. Dancers hold themselves to an unattainable beauty standard.”
Poor body image can cause anxiety. For athletes, the amount of pressure that is put on them to maintain the ideal body type is extremely harmful. For Samantha, a high school junior, her athletic performance largely influences her perception of herself.
“Sometimes I base how I feel about myself on whether I run or not,” she said. “When I do worse than usual in a race, it ruins my week. I feel as if I need a break, but I can't come around to actually giving myself the break that I know my body needs.”
During my junior year of high school, I finally realized that I was the best athlete when I was mentally secure. Food makes me feel strong, and I began to eat more of it. Exercising makes me feel energized and brings me clarity, so I now exercise when my body feels up to the task.
Similarly, Olivia has chosen to accept the drawbacks of dance because she appreciates its impact on her mental health.
“I really love my sport,” she said. “I am grateful that I dance. I have found something that I am so passionate about.”
Presently, I am learning how to listen to my body, and fuel it accordingly, instead of doubting my performance and trying to constantly change in order to improve. I didn’t start running to become a professional athlete, or to pursue a smaller body. I started running because it is something that I genuinely enjoy doing.
