Adolescence is characterized by major physical and social changes, and many adolescents experience pressure related to their bodies and appearance during this period. These pressures may be exacerbated by social media, where exposure to and comparison with idealized and often unrealistic representations of physical appearance and athletic performance are pervasive. Among adolescent athletes, such influences may be compounded by sport-specific body ideals and expectations concerning body shape, weight, and athletic performance. Collectively, these factors may contribute to increased body dissatisfaction, a well-established risk factor for the development of eating disorders.
Accordingly, the Young Athlete Body Project aims to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of the intervention on the internalization of thinness and muscularity ideals, positive body image, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorder symptoms among adolescent athletes. The project will also explore athletes’ experiences and perceptions of the intervention.
The Young Athlete Body Project will be conducted as a cluster-randomized controlled trial, in which 31 schools will be randomized to either an intervention or a control group. The study will include adolescent athletes aged 13–17 years who are either in the ninth grade at a sports-specialized lower secondary school or in the first year of upper secondary school, enrolled in an academic or sports program specializing in elite sports. The intervention will be delivered over five weeks and will consist of two digital educational sessions and three interactive workshops. The sessions will cover key topics related to nutrition, physical development, body image, and body-related pressures in sports, as well as how social media and body ideals may influence adolescent athletes. Data will be collected using electronic questionnaires administered immediately before and after the intervention, with follow-up assessments at 6, 12, and 24 months. Interviews will also be conducted to explore the athletes’ experiences of the intervention.
