Supporting Youth with Body Image Disorders in Sports Settings
How can we use our privileged position to promote a healthier relationship with body image and physical activity among the youth we work with?
Start with the environment. The manual recommends creating a welcoming, non-judgmental space where young people feel heard and understood, avoiding dismissive remarks and comments about body or weight. It also suggests shifting the narrative toward strength, health, balance, energy, and skills rather than appearance.
How you speak matters a lot. The coach slides recommend neutral, supportive language, active listening, and open-ended questions rather than confrontation. They even give examples like replacing “You shouldn’t be starving yourself” with “I’ve noticed you seem really stressed about your body. I’m here to support you.” They also advise choosing the right moment, never right after a workout or in front of others.
In practice, that means praising things like consistency, enjoyment, teamwork, recovery, confidence, and skill development more than physique changes. The manual explicitly recommends talking about overall well-being and functional fitness, and encouraging intrinsic motivation instead of appearance-based motivation.
You can also promote healthier habits by reframing food and exercise. The manual says to encourage balanced eating and moderate exercise for health, enjoyment, and mental well-being, not for achieving an idealized physique. It also recommends emphasizing intuitive eating and using structured but flexible routines rather than rigid rules.
YOU CAN FIND OUR MANUAL AT: http://www.myfitfriend.eu