Why It
Matters
The World Health Organization (WHO) says only 15% of 11-17-year-old girls meet the recommended daily movement guidelines, and negative body image is a commonly cited reason for why girls drop out of sports.
Body image can be a key barrier to girls moving and playing sports, with many girls worried about how they look when playing. These worries are compounded by harmful gender stereotypes and unrealistic appearance ideals promoted by society.
In sport, ill-fitting and revealing uniforms and harassment about appearance and skillset from male peers and coaches also contribute. This constant attention and evaluation of the female body can lead to appearance preoccupation and dissatisfaction among girls and women instead of focusing on what they can achieve in sport.
