{ { Infobox magazine
|title = The Body Issue
|editor =
|image_file = Espn-mag body-issue serena 300.jpg
|image_size = 250
|image_caption = Best-selling of six alternative covers of ESPN The Magazines original Body Issue in 2009 featuring Serena Williams |frequency = Yearly |category = |company = ESPN |firstdate = October 19, 2009 |country = United States |language = English |website = ESPN The Magazine |finaldate=September 6, 2019}}The Body Issue''' was an annual edition of ESPN The Magazine that featured dozens of athletes in nude and semi-nude photographs, which was intended to rival the annual Swimsuit Issue from Sports Illustrated. The first issue debuted on October 19, 2009.
The 2009 edition had six alternative covers featuring Serena Williams (tennis), Carl Edwards (NASCAR), Adrian Peterson (NFL), Dwight Howard (NBA), Gina Carano (mixed martial arts) and Sarah Reinertsen (triathlons). The Serena Williams edition sold the most copies. The 2009 issue was a financial success, achieving double the normal edition sales, greater sales than any bi-weekly issue in over two years and 35 percent more ad sales than comparable issues, which led to plans for extended marketing of the 2010 edition.
The edition included the regular sports coverage. In the bodies section athletes were featured on and off the field. Even a picture during a knee surgery was included. The "Bodies We Want" section was a feature of the best bodies in the world of sports all posed nude but with strategic coverage of private parts. Another section showed the damage done to the human body in athletics such as Laird Hamilton's cracked heel and Torry Holt's crooked middle finger. One action photo captured six members of Major League Soccer's D.C. United simulating a free kick defensive wall while covering their genitalia.
The 2019 issue was announced as also being the final print edition of the magazine. It was said it would continue in a digital form but this did not materialize.
2009
Some of the 2009 covers were revealed on shows such Monday Night Football and Good Morning America''. The 2009 edition included the following:
Baseball: Joba Chamberlain, Nelson Cruz, Iván Rodríguez
Basketball: Dwight Howard, Cappie Pondexter
Beach volleyball: Carol Hamilton, Greg Hunter, Noah Kaiser, Eddie Matz, Michele Rauter, Tim Struby Boxing: Manny Pacquiao Figure skating: Johnny Weir Football: Casey Hampton, Torry Holt, Adrian Peterson Golf: Sandra Gal, Anna Grzebien, Christina Kim Gymnastics: Shawn Johnson Horse racing: Alex Solis Ice hockey: Zdeno Chára, Bill Guerin, Chris Higgins, Mike Komisarek, Sheldon Souray Mixed martial arts: Gina Carano, Randy Couture Rock climbing: Steph Davis Rowing: Susan Francia Short-track speed skating: Allison Baver Skiing: Kristi Leskinen, Julia Mancuso Soccer: Natasha Kai, Bryan Namoff, Oguchi Onyewu, Chris Pontius, Clyde Simms Softball: Jessica Mendoza Stock car racing: Carl Edwards, Mark Martin Sumo wrestling: Byambajav Ulambayaryn Surfing: Claire Bevilacqua, Laird Hamilton Swimming: Ryan Lochte Table tennis: Biljana "Biba" Golić Tennis: James Blake, Serena Williams Track and field: Michelle Carter, Lolo Jones, Sarah Reinertsen Weightlifting: Cheryl Haworth
2010
The 2010 edition included the following:
Alpine skiing: Julia Mancuso
Archery: Erika Anschutz
Basketball: Amar'e Stoudemire, Diana Taurasi
Billiards: Jeanette Lee
Bobsledding: Steven Holcomb
Figure skating: Evan Lysacek
Football: Patrick Willis
Football/Mixed martial arts: Herschel Walker
Golf: Camilo Villegas
Track and field: Rachel Yurkovich
Mixed martial arts: Cristiane Justino, Evangelista Santos
Soccer: Tim Howard
Surfing: Kelly Slater
Swimming: Jeff Farrell
Track and field: Philipa Raschker
Water polo: United States women's national water polo team
Volleyball: Kim Glass
Wheelchair tennis: Esther Vergeer
2011
The 2011 edition included the following: