The media has long been a powerful influence on body image in sports, and its impact has only grown as technology has advanced. With the rise of television, newspapers, and social media, athletes have become increasingly exposed to images of perfect bodies and idealized athletic performance. This can lead to athletes feeling pressure to conform to these unrealistic standards, and can have a detrimental effect on their self-esteem and body image.

Television has long been a major source of body image messages in sports. With its ability to reach a wide audience, television has been able to shape the way athletes perceive their own bodies. Through commercials, television shows, and sports broadcasts, athletes are exposed to images of idealized body types and athletic performance. This can lead to athletes feeling pressure to conform to these unrealistic standards, and can lead to feelings of inadequacy and body dissatisfaction.

Newspapers have also played a role in shaping body image in sports. Through the use of headlines, pictures, and stories, newspapers have been able to create a narrative around body image. This narrative can often be negative, as newspapers can focus on the physical appearance of athletes and use it to make judgments about their performance. This can lead to athletes feeling pressure to conform to certain body types, and can have a detrimental effect on their body image.

Social media has also had an impact on body image in sports. With its ability to reach a wide audience, social media has been able to shape the way athletes perceive their own bodies. Through the use of posts, pictures, and videos, athletes have been exposed to images of idealized body types and athletic performance. This can lead to athletes feeling pressure to conform to these unrealistic standards, and can have a detrimental effect on their self-esteem and body image.

Despite the negative impact of the media on body image in sports, there are steps that can be taken to promote positive body image among athletes. Media outlets can be encouraged to focus on the performance of athletes rather than their physical appearance. Social media can be used to promote positive body image messages and to celebrate athletes of all body types. Finally, athletes can be encouraged to focus on their own performance rather than comparing themselves to others.


By taking these steps, the media can play an important role in promoting positive body image in the sports world. By focusing on performance rather than physical appearance and celebrating athletes of all body types, the media can help create an environment where athletes feel comfortable and confident in their own bodies.