Navigating Body Image & Food Struggles as a Female Athlete

By Morgan Weatherup –  Healing Recovery Centre

If you’re an athlete, you’ve probably heard things like:

“Fuel your body right.”
“Be in peak condition.”
“Strong is the new skinny.”
“Your body is your instrument.”

But what most girls aren’t told is this:

You can love your sport and struggle with your body at the same time.
You can be dedicated, talented, disciplined…
and still have days when your reflection feels like the hardest opponent you’ve faced.

If that’s you — breathe.
You’re not alone, and nothing is “wrong” with you.

In Canada, up to 45% of adolescent girls in competitive sports report body dissatisfaction, and research consistently shows higher rates of disordered eating among young athletes compared to their non-sporting peers. Diet culture often hides inside sports culture — sometimes subtly, sometimes loudly.

This post is your reminder that your worth is not measured in pounds, performance, or comparison.
And you deserve support that honours both your humanity and your identity as an athlete.

Let’s talk about what this experience is really like — and what can actually help.

Why Being an Athlete Makes Body Image More Complicated

Sport can be incredible — empowering, community-building, grounding.
But it also comes with:

• Uniforms that don’t always fit real bodies
  
• Coaches or teammates making comments about weight, food, or “fitness.”
• Social media comparing your body to the highlight reels of others
• Pressure to be both “strong” and “small”
• Seasons of physical change that feel scary or “wrong”

None of this makes you weak or dramatic.
It makes you human — a human living inside a system that often gets body image very, very wrong.

The Truth No One Says Out Loud

Healing your relationship with food and your body isn’t a straight line.
Even the strongest, bravest athletes struggle.
And the goal isn’t to love your body 24/7.

The goal is to learn how to live with it — gently, respectfully, and with less fear.

Body Image Tools for Athletes (That Actually Help)

These aren’t about “fixing” your body.
They’re about supporting you — the person inside it.

1. Swap the “perfect outfit” for the cozy outfit

When body image feels harder, your nervous system is already overwhelmed.
Tight clothing, restrictive uniforms, or mirrors from every angle make it worse.

Cozy clothing sends a simple but powerful signal to your brain:

“I’m safe.”

Try:

• Soft sweatshirts
• Loose joggers
• Oversized tees
• Layers that feel comforting

It’s not superficial — it’s regulation.

2. Clean up your social media feed (this changes everything)

Recent studies show social media increases body dissatisfaction in teens and young adults by up to 50% — especially for athletes exposed to “fitspo,” dieting content, and comparison-heavy posts.

You don’t need to delete everything.
Just ask yourself:

• Who makes me feel not enough?
• Who triggers comparison or guilt?
• Who talks about food or bodies in ways that feel stressful?

And then…

Use the mute button.
You don’t owe your mental health to the algorithm.

Instead, follow creators who normalize:

• Body neutrality
• Anti-diet approaches
• Diverse athletic bodies 
• Rest and recovery
• Nourishment over restriction

Your feed should feel like a supportive teammate, not a critic.

3. Think of your body as your “human suit.”

Your body is not your identity.
It’s the vessel that carries you:

• through games and practices
• through heartbreak and celebration
• through memories you cherish
• through grief and growing
• through every version of you

Your human suit isn’t meant to look one specific way.
It’s meant to change, stretch, strengthen, soften, heal — over and over again.

Ask yourself:

“If this body is the only one carrying me through my whole life, how can I show it just a little more kindness today?”

You don’t need to love it.
You just need to acknowledge it with care.

If Food Has Become a Source of Stress, a lot of athletes believe:

“I can’t struggle with food — I’m supposed to be disciplined.”

That’s diet culture talking.

Here’s the truth:

Disordered eating doesn’t make you weak.
It makes you someone who deserves support.

Signs you might need help include:

• Thinking about food constantly
• Feeling guilty after eating
• Fear of “losing progress”
• Eating based on rules, not hunger
• Skipping meals before practices or games
• Comparing your plate to others
• Feeling out of control around certain foods

If any of this feels familiar, reach out.
You don’t have to figure this out alone — and you shouldn’t have to.

A Gentle Reminder, Athlete to Athlete (or Former Athlete)

Your body does not need to be smaller to be worthy.
Your performance does not define your value.
Your relationship with food should not feel like punishment.
And your sport should never cost you your health.

You get to eat.
You get to rest.
You get to grow.
You get to change.
You get to be a full human, not a highlight reel.

If this resonates, we’re here for you.

At Healing Recovery Centre, our therapists and dietitians specialize in:

• Eating Disorders & Disordered Eating
• Athletes navigating body image pressure
• Emotion regulation & burnout
• Anxiety that hides behind perfectionism
• Rebuilding a trusting relationship with food and your body

You deserve support that honours your identity, your sport, and your whole self — not just the part people see.

Learn more or book a discovery call through our website.
You don’t have to do this alone.