Quick Tips to Promote BodySense
- Be a positive role model in your attitudes, values and behaviors on the topic of food, weight and body image.
- Accept the varied and natural weight range, size and shape of athletes’ bodies.
- Celebrate and compliment athletes’ positive qualities; who the athletes really are rather than how they perform or what they look like.
- Make athletes of all shapes, weights and sizes visible (in sport photos, for example).
- De-emphasize weight by not weighing athletes, comparing athletes’ bodies, or commenting on body size and shape.
- Know the warning signs of negative body image and disordered eating and get help when requested.
- Have a zero tolerance for teasing and discrimination, including body size discrimination.
- Speak positively about bodies, food, weight and shape.
- Be aware that negative comments have the power to impact an athlete for life.
- Help athletes focus on their abilities rather than their appearance.
- Teach that skills learned in one sport can be applied to other sports.
- Say “Yes!” to eating food in all food groups in accordance with Canada’s Food Guide and “No!” to restricting foods or dieting to change body weight and shape.
- Teach athletes that their bodies will gain weight, grow and change during puberty.
- Create time and places for athletes to eat and drink fluids. Make energy-packed food and drinks available.
- Allow athletes equal playing time.
- Invite experts to deliver positive messages and answer questions about nutrition, body image, competition, body composition and performance.
- Make individual and confidential help available.
- Have up-to-date books, pamphlets and Internet sites available for parents, coaches and athletes on the topics of positive body image, nutrition, and disordered eating. (link to resources)
- Make changes in your sport to match the ability of an athlete rather than making changes in an athlete’s body to better fit your sport.