The Relationship between Weight Stigma, Physical Appearance Concerns, and Enjoyment and Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport

Abstract

Participation in physical activity and sport is on the decline and there is a poor understanding of the psychosocial factors that contribute to people’s reluctance to participate. We examined whether there were relationships between factors such as weight stigma, weight bias internalization, appearance evaluation, and fears of negative appearance evaluations, and enjoyment and avoidance of physical activity and sport. Undergraduate students (N = 579) completed a survey assessing demographics, and the variables described above. In hierarchal multivariate regression models, weight stigma (β = −0.16, p < 0.001), appearance evaluation (β = 0.19, p = 0.001), and weight bias internalization (β = −0.19, p = 0.003) were associated with lower enjoyment of physical activity and sport. Weight stigma (β = 0.46, p = 0.001), weight bias internalization (β = 0.42, p = 0.001), and fear of negative appearance evaluations (β = 0.16, p = 0.000) were also significantly associated with the tendency to avoid physical activity and sport. Serial mediation analysis showed the relationship between weight stigma and enjoyment of physical activity and sport was through appearance evaluation and weight bias internalization (indirect effect = −0.007, SE = 0.002, 95% CI = −0.01, −0.02). Similarly, the relationship between weight stigma and avoidance of physical activity and sport was through weight bias internalization and fear of negative appearance evaluations (indirect effect = 0.11, SE = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.05, 0.16). These results suggest that weight stigma and concerns about one’s physical appearance influence people’s enjoyment and reasoning for avoiding physical activity and sport. Research is needed to identify ways to reduce body-related stigma and increase enjoyment and participation in physical activity and sport.

Gender Differences in the Associations Between Physical Activity, Smartphone Use, and Weight Stigma

“…Consistent with prior literature findings ( 10 – 13 ), weight stigma in the present study was found to be negatively associated with PA. Previous research suggests that weight stigma is a variable that lowers individuals' motivations to exercise and subsequently results in low levels of PA among individuals ( 10 – 13 ).…”

“…Previous research suggests that weight stigma is a variable that lowers individuals' motivations to exercise and subsequently results in low levels of PA among individuals ( 10 – 13 ). Indeed, Cheng et al ( 14 ) and Fung et al ( 15 ) found that Hong Kong university students were likely to have weight stigma effects in relation to their intention to engage in PA. Because individuals having weight stigma (either weight-related self-stigma or perceived weight stigma) may want to escape from other individuals' judgements, one coping strategy that is employed is not to exercise in front of them ( 10 – 15 ). More specifically, those who have weight stigma issues may feel like they are being laughed at and/or derided by others when they exercise.…”

“…Weight stigma has been suggested to be a primary contributor of physical inactivity via lowered motivation to exercise caused by this type of stigma ( 10 – 13 ). Most evidence regarding the effects of weight stigma on physical inactivity is supported by data from Western populations.…”

“…Although evidence has shown that PA (or physical inactivity) is associated with weight stigma ( 10 – 13 ), sedentary activity ( 19 – 22 ), and outdoor activity ( 36 ), the associations might vary between genders. Prior evidence shows that females as compared with males enjoy PA less and has fewer positive effects on their quality of life ( 37 ).…”

The Family Is My Priority: How Motherhood Frames Participation in Physical Activity in a Group of Mothers Living in a Low Socioeconomic Status Area

“…Research with low SES groups has indicated that lack of time plays a role [19][20][21][22] together with a lack of enjoyment of physical activity [20], poor health [15], and being overweight or obese [23]. People who are inactive report that negative emotions driven by poor past experiences or fear, worry, and anxiety about their physical competency are barriers to physical activity [24], and people who are overweight or obese experience stigma trying to exercise leading to exercise avoidance [19,[25][26][27][28]. Thus, emotions play an important part and may influence whether inactive or overweight individuals undertake and maintain physical activity.…”