Body Positivity vs. Body Neutrality: Navigating Body Image in Endurance Sports

Body image is a deeply personal and often complex aspect of our lives, influenced by a myriad of factors including societal standards, cultural norms, personal experiences, and even our involvement in sports. For endurance athletes, the relationship with their bodies is often intertwined with performance, appearance, and self-worth. As a registered sports dietitian, I frequently encounter athletes who struggle with how they perceive their bodies, particularly in the context of their sport. Two approaches to body image that have gained prominence in recent years are body positivity and body neutrality. While both have valuable messages, they offer different perspectives on how to view and relate to our bodies.

Understanding Body Positivity and Body Neutrality

Body Positivity is a movement that encourages individuals to embrace and celebrate their bodies, regardless of size, shape, or appearance. It’s about rejecting societal beauty standards and promoting self-love and acceptance. The body positivity movement has been instrumental in challenging harmful stereotypes and fostering a more inclusive understanding of beauty. It encourages people to take pride in their bodies and to focus on the positive aspects of their physical appearance, promoting the idea that all bodies are worthy of love and respect.

Body Neutrality, on the other hand, offers a different approach. It focuses on accepting your body without necessarily loving or hating it. The idea is to appreciate your body for what it can do, rather than how it looks. Body neutrality emphasizes ability over appearance, aiming for a more neutral and less emotionally charged relationship with your body. It encourages people to view their bodies as functional vessels that allow them to live their lives, rather than as objects to be judged based on appearance.

So Which Approach is Better?

When it comes to body image, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The “better” approach is whichever one serves you best. For some, body positivity provides the empowerment and confidence needed to embrace their bodies in a world that often demands conformity to narrow beauty standards. For others, body neutrality offers a sense of peace by taking the focus off appearance altogether and fostering a relationship with the body that is based on functionality and health.

As a sports dietitian working with endurance athletes, I often find that the practice of body neutrality can be particularly beneficial. Endurance sports, with their emphasis on performance, stamina, and physical endurance, can sometimes lead athletes to develop a hyper-focus on their bodies. In this context, body neutrality can help shift the focus from appearance to ability and function, encouraging athletes to appreciate their bodies for what they can do.

The Benefits of Body Neutrality for Endurance Athletes

1. Shifting the Focus from Appearance to Performance: Endurance athletes are often subject to the myth that they need to maintain a certain body type or weight, which can lead to unhealthy relationships with food, exercise, and body image. Body neutrality helps shift the focus away from appearance and towards performance. Instead of worrying about how their bodies look, athletes can concentrate on what their bodies are capable of—whether it’s training for a running race, cycling long distances, or completing a challenging triathlon.

This shift in focus can be liberating, allowing athletes to appreciate their bodies for their strength, endurance, and resilience, rather than feeling pressured to conform to a specific aesthetic. By emphasizing function over form, athletes can develop a healthier and more sustainable relationship with their bodies. And besides, smaller does NOT equal faster!!

2. Promoting Mental Well-being: Body neutrality can also contribute to improved mental well-being. The pressure to meet certain body standards or to love every aspect of one’s appearance can be exhausting and unrealistic. Body neutrality offers a middle ground—acknowledging that it’s okay to have days where you don’t love how your body looks, but still recognizing and appreciating its capabilities.

For endurance athletes, who often face intense physical and mental demands, this mindset can provide a sense of peace and acceptance. It reduces the emotional burden of constantly striving for an ideal appearance and allows athletes to focus on their training and performance without being weighed down by negative body image thoughts.

3. Fostering a Balanced Approach to Training: When the focus is on what the body can do rather than how it looks, athletes are more likely to adopt a balanced and sustainable approach to training. Body neutrality encourages athletes to listen to their bodies, respecting their limits, and prioritizing health and well-being. This can lead to more mindful training practices, where the emphasis is on building strength, endurance, and resilience in a way that is supportive of long-term health.

Athletes who practice body neutrality are also more likely to take rest days when needed, fuel their bodies properly, and avoid overtraining—factors that are crucial for maintaining both physical and mental health in the long run.

4. Encouraging a Healthier Relationship with Food: A body-neutral mindset can also help athletes develop a healthier relationship with food. When the focus is on how food fuels performance rather than on how it affects appearance, athletes can make food choices that support their training and overall well-being. This can help reduce the anxiety and guilt that often accompany eating in a culture that is obsessed with body image and weight.

By viewing food as fuel and nourishment rather than something to be feared or restricted, athletes can enjoy their meals without the constant worry about how it will affect their body’s appearance. This approach promotes a more mindful and functional approach to eating, which is essential for sustaining high levels of physical activity.

Embracing Body Neutrality in Everyday Life

Adopting a body-neutral mindset doesn’t mean you have to completely abandon body positivity or any other approach to body image that works for you. It’s about finding a balance that feels right and sustainable for your unique needs and experiences. For some athletes, body neutrality might be the foundation of their relationship with their bodies, with body positivity serving as an additional source of empowerment and confidence.

Incorporating body neutrality into your daily life can start with small steps. Begin by shifting your internal dialogue—focus on what your body can do, rather than how it looks. Appreciate the strength in your legs after a long run, the stamina that allows you to complete a challenging workout, or the endurance that gets you through a tough race. These are the qualities that truly matter in the context of endurance sports and in life.

Finding Peace and Strength in Body Neutrality

In the world of endurance sports, where physical appearance and performance are often under intense scrutiny, body neutrality offers a refreshing and sustainable approach to body image. It allows athletes to appreciate their bodies for their abilities, rather than their appearance, fostering a healthier and more balanced relationship with themselves.

By embracing body neutrality, you can cultivate a mindset that promotes long-term physical and mental well-being, helping you to navigate the challenges of training, competition, and everyday life with greater ease and peace of mind. So, next time you lace up your running shoes or hop on your bike, take a moment to appreciate your body for all the cool things it can do—and let body neutrality guide you toward a more fulfilling and harmonious relationship with your body.

For those interested in hearing more about this topic, be sure to check out the episode of my podcast, Real Fuel with SLS, where I discuss body image and performance with @amanda_katzz. You can listen to the episode here!