By De Elizabeth, Teen Vogue
Many people deal with body image issues regardless of industry or career, but for athletes, there can often be a great deal of pressure to look and feel a certain way. And even though there's a steady trend in the body positivity movement, our society still has a lot of work to do in order to truly achieve better standards.
[post_ads]For proof of this, look no further than ESPN's survey of Division I student-athletes. According to the site's methodology, they anonymously polled 201 young women, using 13 pertinent questions about body image. The results are troubling, and they're also a clear indicator that these athletes face an enormous amount of pressure.
For example, 31% of the women polled said that they sometimes lie about their weight, with one rower adding: "I'm still self-conscious about the 20 pounds I've gained in college." 67% of the students confessed that they worry about long-term damage to their body, with a little more than half reporting that they spend 15 hours or more per week on physical conditioning. And a concerning 20% of the women revealed that they've been called "fat" by a coach. One student shared: "Multiple coaches have told me I swim fast for a fat girl."
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And it's not just their size or shape that these athletes worry about; ESPN's data shows that these students are also concerned about their looks. 68% of the women confessed that they feel a pressure to be pretty, and 48% said that they wear makeup when they compete.
It's important to know that every body is beautiful – no matter the shape, size, color, or appearance. But if this survey tells us anything, it's that there are still so many unfair and unrealistic measures that women feel they must live up to.
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To see the full results of the survey, head on over to ESPN's website for the complete data.If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, visit the National Eating Disorder Association as well as the Parent, Family & Friends network to learn more about how you can help a loved one on their road to recovery.
More from Teen Vogue
[post_ads]For proof of this, look no further than ESPN's survey of Division I student-athletes. According to the site's methodology, they anonymously polled 201 young women, using 13 pertinent questions about body image. The results are troubling, and they're also a clear indicator that these athletes face an enormous amount of pressure.
For example, 31% of the women polled said that they sometimes lie about their weight, with one rower adding: "I'm still self-conscious about the 20 pounds I've gained in college." 67% of the students confessed that they worry about long-term damage to their body, with a little more than half reporting that they spend 15 hours or more per week on physical conditioning. And a concerning 20% of the women revealed that they've been called "fat" by a coach. One student shared: "Multiple coaches have told me I swim fast for a fat girl."
[post_ads_2]
And it's not just their size or shape that these athletes worry about; ESPN's data shows that these students are also concerned about their looks. 68% of the women confessed that they feel a pressure to be pretty, and 48% said that they wear makeup when they compete.
It's important to know that every body is beautiful – no matter the shape, size, color, or appearance. But if this survey tells us anything, it's that there are still so many unfair and unrealistic measures that women feel they must live up to.
[post_ads_2]
To see the full results of the survey, head on over to ESPN's website for the complete data.If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, visit the National Eating Disorder Association as well as the Parent, Family & Friends network to learn more about how you can help a loved one on their road to recovery.
