Body Shaming, Outdated Ideals Increase Injury Risk Among Female Athletes, Olympics Committee Says

Key Takeaways

Preventing sports injuries among female athletes requires a safe and supportive environment, Olympic experts conclude

Athletes should not have to deal with body shaming, idealized body types or gender norms

These steps are needed on top of the usual injury-prevention strategies recommended for male athletes, experts said

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 3, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Sports injuries among female athletes can be reduced by creating a safe, supportive environment for training and competition, an International Olympic Committee (IOC) panel has concluded.

Among many other physical safety recommendations, an environment free of body shaming, idealized body types and notions of how women “should” behave is key to reducing future risk of injury for female athletes, according to an