IOC Links Body Shaming To Higher Injury Risk In Female Athletes

The International Olympic Committee says body shaming increases injury risk for female athletes. A new IOC consensus statement published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine calls for safe training environments free from body shaming and idealized body types. The panel developed 56 injury prevention recommendations and more than 100 global sports experts reviewed over 600 research articles involving more than 600,000 participants. “Recommendations such as ‘Create safe spaces free from body shaming or promoting ideal body types, or gendered norms’ might appear sensible, but they are NOT always part of female/woman/athletes’ reality,” the panel concluded. “They should be front-of-mind and non-negotiable.” The statement addresses rising injury risks as more women participate in sports, including female-specific health issues like menstruation, pregnancy and bone health. (Story URL)