Body Image and Inclusive Physical Activity

PROGRAMME, KEY ACCTION

Cooperation partnerships in higher education

High rates of body dissatisfaction that leads to physical and mental health problems, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic: The data also shows the proportion of young people who think they are too fat; females 40 – 47%, males 18 – 29%, which indicates a possible negative body image. It is established that negative body image is associated with lower physical activity and sport participation, and this is especially manifested for individuals that experience social inequality.  Furthermore, A recent survey found that 70% of under 18 years olds said they hadn’t learned about positive body image at school and 78% said they would like to learn more about body image in school. The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in increased body image concerns, and a spike in eating disorder referrals to treatment hospitals across the Western world, as young people struggle to cope with the uncertainty that the pandemic has brought to their future.

Health and sport professionals need for training in the creation of physical activity environments that are welcoming, and inclusive of diversity: People who study or work in health and sport have been found to have high levels of personal vulnerability to body image concerns, eating and exercise disorders, as well as high levels of weight stigma towards people in larger bodies. This creates environments that are not welcoming for people whose bodies and identities sit out of the mainstream norms. University curricula often focus on sciences and pedagogy, but not the psychology of movement and sport promotion, which prevents graduates from gaining a nuanced understanding of how they can be more inclusive of diversity.