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Coaches are a key influence of athletes' body image, but often feel ill-equipped to address body image concerns and can perpetuate harmful body ideals. Limited research has investigated coaches' attitudes and beliefs and few effective resources are available. The current study explored coaches' perspectives of body image among girls in sport, as well as their preferences for body image interventions. Thirty-four coaches (41% women; M age =31.6 yrs; SD=10.5) from France, India, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States took part in semi-structured focus groups and completed an online survey. Template analysis of survey and focus group data resulted in eight first-order themes grouped under three categories: (1) perspectives of body image among girls in sport (objectification and surveillance, impact of puberty, the role of the coach); (2) preferences for intervention design (content of the intervention, accessibility of the intervention, incentives for taking part); and (3) cross-cultural considerations (acknowledging your privilege, cultural and societal norms). Two integrative themes were defined: (1) girls' disengagement from sport and (2) the role of community. Coaches perceived body image to be a significant barrier for girls in sport and a need to address this in a formal and accessible intervention., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest This research was externally funded by commercial funders (Dove Self-Esteem Project, Unilever; Nike). PCD is an independent consultant for Dove (Unilever). PCD and ELM are independent consultants for the Social & Community Impact, Nike. PCD was on the Dove Self-Esteem Project Global Advisory Board from 2013 to 2016. The authors declare no other conflicts of interest in relation to this work., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Existing interventions that target the intersection of girls' body image and sports participation are marginally effective, which is, in part, due to methodological limitations pertaining to intervention development (i.e., not theoretically or stakeholder informed). In this research, girls were consulted on their positive and negative body image experiences in sport and their preferences for fostering and remedying these experiences, respectively, in a new intervention. One-hundred and two girls (11-17-years; n = 91) and youth advisory board members (18-35-years; n = 15) from 13 countries participated in semi-structured focus groups and/or surveys. Template analysis of focus group and survey data resulted in 10 first-level themes and three integrative themes, which highlighted factors that both hinder and help girls' body image while playing sport, as well as girls' intervention preferences and cross-national considerations that will eventually impact the adaptation, localisation, and scaling of the intervention. Overall, girls favoured a girl and woman-only, multimodal intervention that upskilled them in appreciating their bodies, while challenging others' harmful behaviours. Stakeholder insights are crucial in creating acceptable, effective, and scalable interventions. Insights from this consultation phase will inform the development of a new scalable, evidence- and stakeholder-informed intervention that aims to foster girls' positive body image and sports enjoyment., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest This research was externally funded by commercial funders (Dove Self-Esteem Project, Unilever; Nike Inc). PCD is an independent consultant for Dove (Unilever). PCD and ELM are independent consultants for Nike Social & Community Impact. The authors declare no other conflicts of interest in relation to this work., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Body image concerns are a barrier for girls' participation in sports. Scarce evidence from Mexico suggests adolescents experience high levels of body dissatisfaction, and national statistics report low levels of physical activity among girls. This study aimed to explore girls' body image concerns and coaches' perceptions of girls' body image experiences in sport. We used reflexive thematic analysis on secondary data from semi-structured focus groups conducted in Mexico City with 12 girls aged 11-17 years and six coaches from two sports organizations. Girls expressed feelings of self-consciousness about their performance, body-related teasing, the male gaze, and harassment within and outside sports contexts. Lack of support from coaches resulted in making excuses for withdrawing or supporting one another. Coaches' accounts demonstrate gender stereotypes about girls in sport. They acknowledge that girls abandon sport because of appearance-related teasing and body image concerns. In addition, colorism and discomfort with speaking directly about bodily functions are fundamental sociocultural influences affecting their communication. This is the first qualitative study exploring girls' body image concerns and coaches' perceptions of such concerns in Mexico City. Further research in lower- and middle-income countries is key in developing effective intervention programs to help girls benefit from sport., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Aline Tinoco reports financial support was provided by Unilever Plc. Aline Tinoco reports financial support was provided by Nike Inc. Emily L Matheson reports a relationship with Nike Inc that includes: consulting or advisory. Sharon Haywood reports a past relationship from 2013 to 2016 and 2021 with Unilever Plc that includes: consulting or advisory., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Globally, girls disengage from sports at an earlier age and higher rate than boys. This is, in part, due to the unique body image challenges that girls face, relative to their male peers. Existing intervention efforts that aim to reduce girls' negative body image and movement experiences have proven marginally effective, if not ineffective. This paper outlines the co-creation, initial piloting and protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of Body Confident Athletes (BCA); an in-person, coach-led intervention that aims to foster positive body image and sports enjoyment among girls., Methods: Following co-creation and an initial pilot, a two-armed cluster randomised controlled trial will assess the immediate (post-intervention) and short-term (1-month and 3-month follow-up) impact of BCA on girls' (N = 1,036; 11-17 years old) body image, sports enjoyment, and affect. Sport organisations will be randomly allocated (1:1) into either an intervention or waitlist control condition. Girls and coaches in the intervention condition will complete three 60-minute sessions over three consecutive weeks. The primary outcome will be the immediate change in girls' body esteem, with secondary outcomes assessing the immediate and short-term changes in girls' body appreciation, self-objectification, attuned self-care, sports enjoyment, and affect., Discussion: This research is the first to utilise an international multi-stakeholder partnership to co-create and evaluate an intervention that addresses the intersection of girls' body image and sport experiences. The theoretical and methodological considerations of this research have led to a feasible intervention and trial protocol, and if proven effective, BCA may assist in reducing the global gender disparity in sports participation., Trial Registration Number: NCT05594524 , registered 25 th October 2022., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Body image concerns are a commonly cited reason for sport drop out. Researchers have begun to explore the influence of coaches on athletes' body image. However, no measure exists to accurately and easily assess interventions or predict coaches' body image supportive behaviors. Using Self-Efficacy Theory as a conceptual framework, the Coach Self-Efficacy Body Image Scale (CSEBIS) was developed. Content validity was judged by a panel of experts (N = 3) and through interviews with coaches (N = 4) across various sports and experience levels. Following initial item iteration, the CSEBIS was assessed with 682 coaches for reliability and validity. The 27 items across four subscales (knowledge, recognition, engagement, disengagement) showed good reliability (internal consistency, test-retest reliability, inter-item and item-total correlations), validity (convergent and discriminant validity, differentiation between known groups), factor structure, and model invariance across gender. Developing and initially validating the CSEBIS contributes to the existing literature by providing researchers with a novel scale to measure coaches' confidence in identifying and addressing body image concerns among their athletes. Following further testing, this instrument may be used to assess the effectiveness of body image education and intervention efforts in sport, and the impact of coaches' attitudes and behaviors on athletes' body image., Competing Interests: Disclosure of interest This research was externally funded by commercial funders (Dove Self-Esteem Project, Unilever; Nike). ELM is an independent consultant for the Social & Community Impact, Nike. The authors declare no other conflicts of interest in relation to this work., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)