Addressing Sporting Pressures on athletes’ body Image and Relationships with Eating and exercise
| Our ASPIRATIONS | Info for Sporting Organisations | Info for Athletes | Need Some Support? |
Why ASPIRE?
We know that elite athletes face many pressures, including on their bodies, eating, and exercise, which can impact performance, physical health, and mental wellbeing. We hope to achieve the following outcomes through the ASPIRE study:
- Improved understanding of how these pressures impact elite athletes, their performance and health.
- Improved assessment of problematic body image concerns, eating and exercise behaviours in elite athletes.
- Informing the development and modification of interventions specifically tailored for elite athletes, which can be used to help restore optimal health and performance.
How can I get involved?
We are currently recruiting athletes to participate in the study!
We are wanting to hear from a diverse range of elite athletes regardless of sporting type or gender, and including para-athletes and retired athletes. Even if you do not or did not experience pressures regarding your body, eating and/or exercise as an elite athlete, we still want to hear from you!
If you are a current or former athlete who is 18 years or older and you have trained or competed at national or international levels, you can get involved by participating in the study.
If you represent a sporting team or organisation, you can find out more here
You can also help promote the study by sharing it with other elite current and former athletes – just send them the link to this website: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/thri-aspire (opens in a new window)
Meet the team
Find out more about the team
Scott FattScott is a PhD researcher at the Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University and a clinical psychologist. His interests include understanding how body image, and extreme eating and exercise behaviours impact on individuals, and the balance of optimal health and performance. |  |
Dr Deborah MitchisonDeborah is a NHMRC Early Career Research Fellow at the Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University and a clinical psychologist. Her research is directed at reducing the burden of eating disorders and associated body image problems within the population. |  |
Prof. Phillipa HayPhillipa is a Professor of Mental Health at the Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University and a Psychiatrist. She is recognised internationally for her expertise in reducing the personal and public health burden of eating disorders and obesity. |  |
A/Prof. Emma GeorgeEmma is an Associate Professor at the Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University. With a background in physical activity and health promotion, her research aims to promote lifelong physical activity and improve health outcomes. |  |
Nikki JeacockeNikki is a Senior Sports Dietitian and the Disordered Eating Project Lead at the Australian Institute of Sport. She has worked extensively in high performance sport and has specialist expertise working with athletes and organisations in the prevention, early identification and management of disordered eating and eating disorders. |  |