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Create a team environment that promotes healthy relationships with food.
Team culture shapes athlete behavior more than individual talks:
[!WARNING]
The Cultural Red Flags
If these behaviors exist on your team, you are actively increasing the injury risk and RED-S rates of your athletes:
- Body-related comments (Even "positive" ones like "You look so fit!")
- Weigh-ins tied to performance, pacing, or roster decisions.
- Public praise for weight loss.
- Food restriction being normalized or joked about ("I can't eat that").
- Diet talk dominating team meals or bus rides.
- Food policing (Teammates or coaches commenting on what someone is eating).
- Fear of eating around the coaching staff.
Model These:
Avoid These:
Around Food:
Around Bodies:
| ❌ The Harmful Phrase | ✅ The Biological & Performance Pivot |
|---|---|
| "You'd be faster if you lost a few pounds." | "Let's look at your sleep and recovery data this week." |
| "You're looking so lean right now." | "You're looking strong and powerful out there." |
| "Are you really going to eat all that?" | (Say Nothing. Let the athlete eat.) |
| "We need to get some weight on you." | "Let's refer you to a Sports Dietitian to dial in your fueling." |
| "Some people just have the perfect runner's body." | "Running rewards consistency, mechanics, and mental grit." |
Do:
Say: "I hear that you're worried about performance. A sports dietitian can help you fuel for your best performance. Want me to connect you?"
Don't say: "Sure, you could probably drop a few pounds." "You look fine to me." "Have you tried cutting carbs?"
Do:
Don't:
✓ Performance focus (not appearance) ✓ Body comments = off limits ✓ Food is fuel (no "good/bad") ✓ Model healthy eating ✓ Inclusive team meals ✓ Professionals for nutrition concerns
✗ Weight-focused comments ✗ Public weigh-ins ✗ Praising thinness ✗ Diet talk ✗ Food restriction normalization ✗ Ignoring warning signs
For team culture consultation, book at aspireperformancerd.com
Create a team environment that promotes healthy relationships with food.
Team culture shapes athlete behavior more than individual talks:
[!WARNING]
The Cultural Red Flags
If these behaviors exist on your team, you are actively increasing the injury risk and RED-S rates of your athletes:
- Body-related comments (Even "positive" ones like "You look so fit!")
- Weigh-ins tied to performance, pacing, or roster decisions.
- Public praise for weight loss.
- Food restriction being normalized or joked about ("I can't eat that").
- Diet talk dominating team meals or bus rides.
- Food policing (Teammates or coaches commenting on what someone is eating).
- Fear of eating around the coaching staff.
Model These:
Avoid These:
Around Food:
Around Bodies:
| ❌ The Harmful Phrase | ✅ The Biological & Performance Pivot |
|---|---|
| "You'd be faster if you lost a few pounds." | "Let's look at your sleep and recovery data this week." |
| "You're looking so lean right now." | "You're looking strong and powerful out there." |
| "Are you really going to eat all that?" | (Say Nothing. Let the athlete eat.) |
| "We need to get some weight on you." | "Let's refer you to a Sports Dietitian to dial in your fueling." |
| "Some people just have the perfect runner's body." | "Running rewards consistency, mechanics, and mental grit." |
Do:
Say: "I hear that you're worried about performance. A sports dietitian can help you fuel for your best performance. Want me to connect you?"
Don't say: "Sure, you could probably drop a few pounds." "You look fine to me." "Have you tried cutting carbs?"
Do:
Don't:
✓ Performance focus (not appearance) ✓ Body comments = off limits ✓ Food is fuel (no "good/bad") ✓ Model healthy eating ✓ Inclusive team meals ✓ Professionals for nutrition concerns
✗ Weight-focused comments ✗ Public weigh-ins ✗ Praising thinness ✗ Diet talk ✗ Food restriction normalization ✗ Ignoring warning signs
For team culture consultation, book at aspireperformancerd.com
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