Doctor Meghan Bentley has explained how sport clubs that focus on body weight and the nutrition of players is sometimes a negative factor for Athletes if focused too rigorously. She says “sporting environments with a really attentive focus on body weight and body composition can be really unhealthy.”
Dr. Bentley who works for Leeds Beckett University has covered research and work around sports nutrition and has published articles covering the topic and exploring how athletes are affected.
Many male athletes are praised for their body growth and muscle gain, but for women this same concept is still deemed as undesirable and can be seen as unfeminine by society. The notion always seems to be that men who go to the gym, are muscular and do sport are seen in a positive light compared to women who aspire to do something similar.
On athletes and why it affects them Dr Bentley went on to say, “they become so fixated on the outcome like weight loss, that they start following behaviours which are conducive to their health and performance.”
Kayleigh Whybrow, is a founding member of the American Football team ‘Leeds Chargers Women’s’ and plays as an offensive line/centre who has been part of the squad for around 7 years, standing at 5’5 in height. Whybrow has struggled in the past and says that in some cases what you wear has to change because of your body. ” For our sport shoulder’s and back is everything, so you can’t wear certain clothes at time because your back may be too broad.” Whybrow explained.
The truth is that a handful of athletes struggle because they worry about their appearance and physical presence even though they train and play intensely on a weekly basis, and let the health side of things to get the best of them.
