Abstract:

Restrictive dieting and excessive exercise behaviours are increasingly observed among children, adolescents and young adults. Youth coaches and teachers play a pivotal role in shaping health beliefs, body image norms and performance expectations, functioning either as protective or risk-amplifying agents. However, formal training programmes for coaches and pre-service teachers rarely address the psychological, familial and media-related determinants underlying maladaptive lifestyle regulation. There is a clear need for prevention-oriented, interdisciplinary health literacy education embedded within teacher education and youth sport training contexts.

The proposed training model is informed by qualitative findings from semi-structured interviews with psychologists (n=6), nutrition therapists (n=7) and physicians (n=5) working with youth populations. Reflexive thematic analysis identified recurring cross-disciplinary determinants, including identity regulation through performance, perfectionism, parental modelling, coaching pressure and the influence of digital media narratives promoting “health optimisation.” These insights were translated into an evidence-informed interdisciplinary training framework tailored to youth coaches and pre-service teachers.

The model integrates three core competency domains:
(1) recognition of psychological and behavioural early warning signs;
(2) critical evaluation of media-driven health narratives; and
(3) implementation of protective communication and guidance strategies within educational and sport environments. The programme employs case-based learning, guided reflection, role-play simulations and practical screening exercises designed to strengthen preventive awareness and professional responsibility.

The framework is designed for pilot implementation within teacher education programmes and youth coaching certification courses, with structured pre- and post-assessment of health literacy and preventive competencies. Strengthening psychological and media literacy among educational and sport professionals may enhance early risk recognition and support the creation of protective environments that reduce maladaptive dieting and excessive exercise behaviours.

Keywords:

Health literacy, teacher education, coach training, preventive education, media literacy.