Overweight boy’s and girl’s experiences with and perception of athletic clothing and its relationship to physical activity participation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between athletic clothing and physical activity in overweight children. The perceptions of athletic clothing among overweight children were also investigated. The researchers asked: (a) what are overweight children’s experiences with athletic clothing, (b) does clothing impact overweight children’s motivation to participate in physical activity, and (c) are there differences between boys and girls? Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with 35 children between the ages of 9 and 14 who were considered overweight according to their body mass index. Literature on social physique anxiety and body image provided the conceptual framework for the study. Four key themes emerged from the children’s discussions of their experiences with athletic clothes and participation in physical activity: (a) body exposure concerns, (b) clothing size exposure concerns, (c) desire to quit because of athletic clothes, and (d) positive experiences with athletic clothes.

Behavioral reinforcement of pathological exercise in anorexia nervosa

“…behavior. Even in activities peripherally related to exercising, such as purchasing athletic wear, thin bodies are glorified and centered as the norm(Reddy-Best & Harmon, 2015). Hypothesis 2 will argue that fat phobia negatively reinforces exercise by incentivizing the creation of real or perceived distance between one's body with a fat body; however(e.g., pride) that are most relevant in reinforcing exercise.Biological underpinnings of exercise rewardsInvestigations into measuring endocannabinoid release during exercise could be compared against self-report measures of postexercise positive affect (i.e., including while exercise intensity is manipulated) to explain whether the exercise rewards described in this hypothesis are more salient at a biological level (i.e., if exercise elicits elevated endocannabinoids in individuals with AN) or a cognitive level (i.e., if no differences in AN vs. non-AN are observed, which could indicate that the rewards are not biologically based but rather cognitively perceived).…”

Child health behaviour and parent priorities for a school-based healthy lifestyle programme

“…In addition, parents concerned for their child’s weight identified decreasing clothing size as a strong motivator for positive health behaviour change, and this was consistent with a previous study that found that older children self-reported a motivation to lose weight to have clothes fit better to improve looks (Lambert- et al, 2016). Children with overweight and obesity may have more difficulty finding fashionable clothing that fits well and provides adequate coverage (Brock et al, 2010), and inability to dress in a manner and style typical to peers may increase the risk of children experiencing social exclusion and bullying by their peers (Reddy-Best and Harmon, 2015). Parents concerned for their child’s food choices identified improving food choices, decreasing BMI and decreasing clothing size as significant motivators for positive health behaviour change, while difficulty being consistent about home health changes was a significant barrier to change.…”

“Fat People Exercise Too!”: Perceptions and Realities of Shopping for Women’s Plus-Size Exercise Apparel

“…For example, women report the need for a longer inseam on pants and shorts to accommodate for larger thighs (Christel et al, 2016). Exercise apparel fit is an issue identified by overweight youth (Reddy-Best & Harmon, 2015) as well as adults who wear plus-size clothing (Christel & O’Donnell, 2016).…”