The purpose of the new guidelines is to forge a pathway where participation and engagement in sport promotes healthy, connected and confident bodies.

Physical activity and sport can improve body image, yet eating disorders and other body image-related conditions are much higher in current and former athletes than in other populations.

Evidence suggests that focusing on an individual’s body appearance, physique and composition can be harmful to an athlete and can lead to body shame, body dissatisfaction, and other risk factors for eating disorders.

Some alarming facts that the Body Confident Collective has shared:

• 77% of adolescents report body image distress
• 91% of adult women want to be thinner
• Children can tell us that “thin is good and fat is bad” from the age of three!!!

Attached is an information sheet courteousy of Body Confident Collective Sport Guidelines for Parents and Supporters.

For additional information please visit https://www.bodyconfidentcollective.org/sport-guidelines