How the media has warped our attitudes to sport and body image

It’s not surprising then that almost 1 in 5 women (18%) surveyed said they would feel more encouraged to play or take part in sport if there was less commentary on women’s bodies and skin in the media. This week alone, the press has focused more on British tennis player Emma Raducanu’s appearance and her clothing than her performance and we have a long way to go until women in sport are given the same treatment as men by the media. Inevitably, then, it will be even longer until this change trickles down to women in sport at a beginner level and attitudes towards body image are transformed.

How to let go of skin-consciousness when exercising

So what can we do to change the way we feel about body image and sport right now?

Talk about it: not only does it feel good to get worries and concerns off your chest but by doing so, you’ll probably find that many women around you feel the same way and you can help each other overcome the barriers to sport you feel are in your way together.
Exercise in places that you feel are inclusive: whether that’s beginners’ classes, women-only gyms or with a personal trainer who can help you get to grips with exercising even if you’re really inexperienced.
Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable: you might think that you need to wear a pastel matching set to the gym because that’s what you’ve seen on Instagram, but there’s nothing stopping you from wearing tracksuit bottoms and an oversized T-shirt if that’s what you’d prefer.
Try not to worry about what other people think: it’s easier said than done, but the chances are, everyone exercising around you is too busy worrying about what they look like to worry about you.

A third of women won’t exercise because of how their skin looks, a new study finds