Young gymnasts should not be subjected to pressure from coaches to conform to specific physical standards. When I was 11, my gymnastics coach, Mary, called for a team meeting after practice. She said we were going to watch a TED Talk on grit and determination to inspire us. We were all excited and gathered on the gym floor. As the video played, we were starting to feel motivated. But then, Coach Mary paused it and started talking about maintaining an ideal weight. We were confused since this wasn’t what we expected. Suddenly, she pointed at me and said, “Look at Ciana, a good example of the right weight for sports.” I felt embarrassed as everyone stared at me. My teammates, all 9-12 years old, looked uncomfortable too. The meeting ended awkwardly, leaving us more self-conscious about our bodies. Coach Mary’s intention to motivate us backfired, creating an uneasy atmosphere instead.
A study conducted in Greece with female gymnasts shows that competitive young female gymnasts have higher symptoms of eating disorders and face more pressure about their weight than non-competitive peers (Kontele et. al). According to Kontele, “competitive female adolescent gymnast’s present higher eating disorder symptomatology, as well as higher sport-related weight pressures, than their non-competitive peers.” Christina also highlights that “Eating disorders and disordered eating affect 50-65% of gymnasts, yet this is often overlooked and underplayed by many coaches, parents, and even other athletes because we are blinded by the standards given.” While trying to achieve their ideal body weight or shape, many gymnasts will follow some type of low-calorie diets and other unhealthy weight control practices. This can lead to not meeting the nutritional requirements for energy, macronutrients, and micronutrients, putting young athletes at risk of low energy availability and nutritional deficiencies. Kontele explains, “Many gymnasts, in their quest for the ideal body weight or shape, often follow low-calorie diets and other unhealthy weight-control practices. As a result, many female adolescent gymnasts do not meet the nutritional requirements for energy, macronutrients, and micronutrients, and they may be at risk of low energy availability and nutritional deficiencies.” This is why many gymnasts are put on Pediasure, a nutritional supplement developed by Abbott for children and teens who struggle to meet their nutritional needs.
Moreover, the use of unhealthy weight control practices puts female gymnasts at a high risk of developing eating disorders and body image issues. As Kontele notes, “the use of unhealthy weight control practices puts female gymnasts at a high risk of developing eating disorders (ED) and disordered eating (DE).” Lindboe adds that “The motor nerve conduction velocity in the proximal segments of the median and ulnar nerves was significantly slower in the gymnasts and, as a possible consequence of smaller muscle fibers, the motor responses were generally less in this group.” This means that gymnasts have slower nerve signals in certain parts of their arms, and their muscle responses are generally weaker, probably because their muscle fibers are smaller due to malnutrition.
Some people might argue that some level of physical standard is necessary in gymnastics for safety and performance because coaches need to ensure athletes are fit and healthy to perform complex routines and avoid injuries. However, it is important for young athletes not to put their physical and mental health on the line, because safety and doing well in gymnastics while pushing strict physical standards can lead to problems like eating disorders and low self-esteem. Young gymnasts should focus on improving their skills and staying healthy instead of trying to meet unrealistic body shapes. Coaches can help them live a healthy lifestyle and perform their best without enforcing harmful body standards.
We need to take action now. Coaches, parents, and athletes must prioritize health over unrealistic body standards. Let’s create a supportive environment focusing on skill development and overall well-being, ensuring young gymnasts get the nutrition they need and avoid harmful weight control practices. We can help them achieve their best performances without compromising their health.
Christina Crowder Anderson MS, RDN. “8 Warning Signs Your Gymnast Is Struggling with Disordered Eating.” Christina Anderson RDN | The Gymnast Nutritionist®, 12 Aug. 2023, christinaandersonrdn.com/signs-your-gymnast-is-struggling-with-disordered-eating/.
Kontele, Ioanna, et al. “Weight Pressures and Eating Disorder Symptoms among Adolescent Female Gymnasts of Different Performance Levels in Greece.” Children (Basel, Switzerland), U.S. National Library of Medicine, 14 Feb. 2022, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8870309/#:~:text=The%20most%20obvious%20findings%20that,than%20their%20non%2Dcompetitive%20peers.
M;, Lindboe CF;Slettebø. “Are Young Female Gymnasts Malnourished? An Anthropometric, Electrophysiological, and Histological Study.” European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6540676/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.
