A comparison of body size ideals body dissatisfaction, and media influence between female track athletes, martial artist, and non athletes

Author: Viern Swami, Lauren Steadman, Martin J. Tovee

Source: Psychology of Sport & Exercise Nov 2009, Vol. 10 Issue 6, p609-614

· Past studies suggested that female athletes may be at higher risk of body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders due to a need to attain athletic physiques under task or social pressure
· Previous studies shows that sports that promote leanness have athletes with higher body dissatisfaction

· Argument:
o Female track athletes would desire thinner figures than female martial artists and non-athletes
o Female track athletes would recognize “attractive” in a more narrow range of body sizes than female martial artist and non-athletes
o Female track athletes would have a show a higher body dissatisfaction than female martial artist and non-athletes
o Female track athletes would show greater internalization of media influences, in relation to the endorsement and acceptance of an athletic and toned body.

· Method:
o From the 132 participants between the ages of 16 and 61, there were 41 track athletes, 47 martial artists, and 44 non-athletes.
o The study was performed through a three page questionnaires that included photographic figuring scale, sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, involvement in sporting activities, and demographic.

· Results:
o Track athletes had significantly lower BMI than Martial artist and non-athletes
o Track and martial artist athletes participated in more sporting activities than non-athletes.
o Majority of the participants had consistent answers to define what they thought was attractive or not attractive.
o Female track believed that they had a larger body than non-athletes.
§ Female track athletes had higher body dissatisfaction than both Martial artists and non-athletes
§ Martial artist and non-athletes did not believe they had a larger body
§ Between Martial artist and non-athletes, the two groups had no significant difference in body dissatisfaction.
o Track athletes scored higher than Martial artists in internalization in regards to media such as endorsements. Martial artist scored higher than non-athletes in internalization.

o Discussion: Martial artists and non-athletes had similar scores in body dissatisfaction, but track athletes scored highest. Because Martial artist focus more on physical strength, rather than endurance, marital art does not promote leanness. Track athletes had the highest degree of body dissatisfaction, but yet had the lowest body mass index. Track athletes also scored highest in Internalisation- Athletes in regards to getting endorsements for the ideal athlete body. Track athletes are under more pressure to conform to a leaner physique. From the physical attractiveness part in the questionnaires, all three groups scored the thinnest models to be the most attractive, but not because they are beautiful, but because their body were the physical ideal to perform the sport. Athletes that strive to be thinner may not want to be more attractive, but more able to perform the sport. Body mass index was a predictor in body dissatisfaction because participants with higher body mass index had higher degree of body dissatisfaction.

One thing that this article pointed out is that athletes may be dissatisfy with their body, not because they want to look more attractive, to achieve a body that best fits their sport performance. I have never thought about that because I thought that female athletes were dissatisfy with their bodies because it did not look feminine. This makes me think of women who are in body building because they are not trying to achieve the "ideal beauty" look--thin and graceful--but they try to make their body look as close to a body builder's ideal look.

This article reminds me of the movie "Save the Last Dance" because there was a character that was bulimic because she wanted to be able to maintain the ballerinas body and get the main dance role.

The phrase "ideal look" is so vague and can be understood differently in different cultures and social groups. One ideal look for one group may not be the same for another.