Mentor/s
Professor Mark Jareb and Professor Amanda Moras
Participation Type
Poster
Abstract
With 56.1% of children participating in sports, it is without question important to ensure youth athletes have a positive experience so they will continue to exercise and lead healthy lifestyles throughout their life.1 Exercise has a positive effect on many aspects of cognition and self-esteem in healthy children and adolescents and there is a positive correlation between exercise and mood in children and adults.2 For this reason, it is important to encourage exercise in all phases of life. However, some external factors can serve as a deterrent to exercise or turn exercise into a negative thing. One example is the societal pressures that you have to look a certain way to be an athlete. This largely affects female athletes as a disproportionate focus is placed on their appearance. This perception of the female athlete judged solely on their looks can lead to a condition called the female athlete triad. The female athlete triad is a progression from disordered eating, to amenorrhea, to osteopenia. If female athletes are led to believe they need to look a certain way to be attractive or to be an athlete that can trigger disordered eating and begin this progression. The female athlete triad is a serious condition that threatens the overall health and well-being of female athletes and stems from the perception of women in sports.
College and Major available
Exercise Science BS
Location
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building
Start Day/Time
4-29-2022 1:00 PM
End Day/Time
4-29-2022 4:00 PM
Let Her Be An Athlete
Digital Commons & West Campus West Building
With 56.1% of children participating in sports, it is without question important to ensure youth athletes have a positive experience so they will continue to exercise and lead healthy lifestyles throughout their life.1 Exercise has a positive effect on many aspects of cognition and self-esteem in healthy children and adolescents and there is a positive correlation between exercise and mood in children and adults.2 For this reason, it is important to encourage exercise in all phases of life. However, some external factors can serve as a deterrent to exercise or turn exercise into a negative thing. One example is the societal pressures that you have to look a certain way to be an athlete. This largely affects female athletes as a disproportionate focus is placed on their appearance. This perception of the female athlete judged solely on their looks can lead to a condition called the female athlete triad. The female athlete triad is a progression from disordered eating, to amenorrhea, to osteopenia. If female athletes are led to believe they need to look a certain way to be attractive or to be an athlete that can trigger disordered eating and begin this progression. The female athlete triad is a serious condition that threatens the overall health and well-being of female athletes and stems from the perception of women in sports.
Students' Information
Julie Gallotto, Exercise Science, Honors Student, Grad- May 2023