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Is the AFL’s skinfold testing ban tackling fat shaming – or has football gone ‘tender’?
Jul
It should come as no surprise that some in the sports media reacted with outrage when it was revealed that the AFL body composition test removal (including skinfold testing) in the junior (under 18) talent pathway system that came into play shortly after the league moved to stop publishing player weights.
‘The world has gone mad,’ says former Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd, who was once a great player and coach Paul Roos said: “It’s just a farce… they [skinfold tests] are so insignificant that their removal seems absurd.”
Is this a sign that AFL players have ‘gone tender’ or is there a good reason for it?
Player Scales – Public or Private?
Athletes, like everyone else, have a right to privacy in relation to personal information such as their weight. By ceasing to publish player weights, the AFL can seek to respect player privacy and promote a more confidential approach to sensitive information.
Posting athletes’ weights can also contribute to a culture that places a premium on body image, which can put pressure on some athletes to maintain a certain body type and potentially affects mental health and self-esteem.
It is vital to understand the philosophy behind the AFL’s body composition policy, which is “first, do no harm” – which aims to promote positive outcomes for all individuals. So if keeping athletes’ weights private helps some athletes who may have concerns about body image, even if they are a minority, then it is worth making the change.
Some critics argue that knowing a player’s weight can support from a performance perspective—coaches, commentators, and even fans can compare pairs of players to assess performance and potential. However, the impact of weight on performance in soccer is not clear.
Most AFL players will tell you that their listed weight has not been updated since drafting, so is unlikely to be precise.
Read more: Recognizing the signs of eating disorders in adolescents: tips for parents and caregivers
What about the skinfold test?
The AFL’s decision to discontinue skinfold testing for newborn talent was made for the same reasons – to prioritise the health and wellbeing of athletes.
Skin fold examination involves measuring the thickness of fat tissue in various places on the body using a caliper.
It has long been part of football culture. Historically, at an AFL club, these tests have been conducted semi-regularly by qualified personnel to provide a quantitative measure of an athlete’s physical fitness.
While many athletes experience no side effects from skinfold testing, for some it can have a significant impact, leading to a worsening of the relationship between food and body image and an increased risk of developing eating disorders.
At elite level, assessments are carried out by sports dietitians or qualified medical staff who can recognise signs of eating disorders or body image issues in athletes and provide appropriate support based on this.
But at levels below the elite level, it is more tough because resources and expertise are often circumscribed. As a result, there is likely to be greater risk among these younger athletes, which is a key reason the AFL has changed its approach.
Is skinfold testing helpful in assessing physical fitness?
Body composition assessment, including skinfold testing, can be a helpful tool in testing physical fitness and optimizing athlete performance, but it is vital to be aware of its limitations.
Although the evidence clearly shows that lean mass and fat distribution can impact speed and endurance based performance (which are vital components of team sports such as AFL), the correlation with overall performance on the football pitch – which requires a high level of execution, strength and decision-making skills – is unknown and relies mainly on anecdotal evidence.
Skinfold testing can be helpful in elite sport settings to track changes over time and monitor the effectiveness of training programs and nutritional interventions. For example, if a recruit is starting a strength program for the first time, monitoring skinfolds and weight can support track progress and provide insight into modifications.
Skinfold testing can also support identify athletes who are at risk of undereating or those suffering from eating disorders.
How common are body image problems in sports?
Body image concerns and anxieties are common among competitive athletes, although there are very few published studies providing precise estimates, mainly due to the difficulty of collecting this type of data (often due to access by athletes and the sensitive nature of the topic).
However, we are starting to see more published studies emerge and athletes talk openly on this topic.
There are several factors that can contribute to concerns about body image in elite and junior sport. These concerns often stem from the pressure and desire to perform, which can lead to an unhealthy focus on the athlete’s physique in order to meet the demands of their sport and gain a competitive edge.
Media and public scrutiny, especially for athletes who are in the spotlight or in popular sports and are compared to other athletes, as well as unrealistic standards of what an athlete “should look like,” can also contribute to these concerns.
It is commonly believed that athletes who participate in weight or aesthetic sports, or endurance sports where there may be a power to body mass advantage, will be at greater risk for body image issues and eating disorders. However, a recent study found that athletes, regardless of sport or gender, may be affected by eating disorders.
Other factors may also contribute to these concerns, such as expectations regarding the uniformity of the discipline, injuries and discontinuation of sport.
It is vital to remember that body image issues and anxiety are not circumscribed to a specific gender, age, background or sporting ability – athletes in the same discipline may have different experiences for a variety of reasons, which can impact their mental health, performance and overall well-being.
Read more: Novel Zealand gymnasts can now wear shorts over their leotards – why is this so vital to the athletes?
What do other sports do?
There has been a significant shift in sports culture worldwide towards promoting positive body image, mental health and the holistic development of athletes, which has led to changes in the way body weight and body composition are assessed and discussed.
In recent years, there has been growing awareness of the potentially negative effects of body composition emphasis on athletes’ mental health and well-being. This has been demonstrated in independent panel reports on Swimming in Australia AND Gymnastics Australia which has raised concerns about the potential over-emphasis on body image in the sporting environment.
In response, many sports and organisations such as the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) have focused on body positivity campaigns, education and support programs. Reflections on Eating Disorders and Body Composition Assessment AND Eating Disorders in Sports Program.
It is clear that there has been a major shift in the culture of sport and while body mass and skinfold measurements can still be used in assessing physical performance, efforts are being made to de-emphasize these measurements and prioritize a more holistic approach to assessing athletes.
