Recently, Shaquille O’Neal opened up about how comments from others impacted him in this Yahoo! article. Dr. Nickols was also interviewed about the topic:
“Male athletes can experience both internal and external pressures to have bodies that are high in muscle and low in body fat,” he explains. “The pressure for male athletes to have well-defined muscles, minimal body fat and a physique that conveys strength, power and athleticism can lead to maladaptive behaviors that put an athlete’s physical and psychological health at risk. Achieving high athletic performance has long been the centerpiece for athletes. However, there now seemingly is pressure for athletes to both perform at a high level in sport and to ‘look the part.'”
Trying to find a psychologist or dietitian who understands the unique mental, physical, and emotional needs of an athlete? The team at Mind Body Endurance can help.