Creating Weight-Inclusive Climates in Fitness Spaces

Abstract

Research shows that physical activity (PA) -related professionals perpetuate weight stigma and discrimination in their practices by holding antifat attitudes. Given the adverse outcomes associated with weight stigma and discrimination (including PA avoidance), researchers and fat activists have proposed and implemented a range of strategies to reduce weight stigma and cultivate inclusive PA settings. In this paper, we summarized and organized research-informed strategies for reducing weight stigma and creating weight-inclusive climates in fitness spaces. We adopted a socioecological model to organize a variety of strategies for improving weight inclusivity in fitness spaces at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural levels. Ranging from staff training to adjusting the physical space, the strategies proposed in this paper aim at dismantling limited and harmful weight-centric narratives and practices that keep fat individuals marginalized from PA settings.

WIT FITS: Effects of Weight Stigma Intervention on Exercise Professionals’ Attitudes Toward Fatness: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Through the intervention course, we introduced the HAES® approach and each of its five principles: weight inclusivity, health enhancement, respectful care, eating for well-being, and life-enhancing movement. We also introduced weight stigma reduction strategies participants could implement at intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural levels (Cook et al, 2014;Zuest et al, 2022). In a single-arm pilot study of the intervention course, Zuest et al (2023) found that the online course significantly decreased exercise professionals' anti-fat attitudes from pretest to posttest.…”