Yes, We Can (No, You Can’t): Weight Stigma, Exercise Self-Efficacy, and Active Fat Identity Development

Meadows, Angela; Bombak, Andrea E.

doi:10.1080/21604851.2019.1550303

Cited by 45 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 95 publications

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“…Coping with stigma can also be 'maladaptive' [45] and have a negative impact if, for instance a person consequently engages in an unhealthy lifestyle and avoids exercising [42]. One specific coping strategy appears to be crucial with regard physical inactivity: withdrawal from or avoidance of potentially threatening situations [21,46]. In a comprehensive theoretical model on stigma management, Meisenbach [47] predicts that stigmatised individuals "are also likely to isolate themselves from society" ([47] p.280) and furthermore names the strategy of avoiding specific situations [47].…”

Section: Coping With Weight Stigma and Physical Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Weight stigma experiences and self-exclusion from sport and exercise settings among people with obesity

2021

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Background A central strategy to tackle the health risks of obesity is regular physical activity (PA), exercising and participating in sports. However, people with obesity regularly experience weight-related stigma and discrimination in sport and exercise settings. Research has indicated that they often cope with such experiences by simply excluding themselves from sport and exercise. Meanwhile, self-exclusion as a coping strategy has not been fully understood and it remains unclear to what extent self-exclusion from PA settings is accompanied by general inactivity among people with obesity. The goal of this interview study was to determine to what extent physical inactivity among adults with obesity is the result of weight stigma-induced self-exclusion in and from sport and PA settings. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with thirty adult men and women with obesity (average BMI: 40.64) and asked them about experiences with their body, weight stigma and coping behaviours in sport and exercise settings across their lifespans. Employing constant comparative analysis and a thematic network approach, we analysed the interview data to identify the most common reasons for and different strategies of self-exclusion. Results Participants reported that they excluded themselves from sport and exercise settings due to traumatic weight stigma experiences, self-discrimination and fear of stigma, using a variety of strategies. Exposure to discrimination was prevented by selectively avoiding certain settings or strategically frequenting them at certain times only, but also by exercising in ‘safe’ spaces, e.g. at home. Furthermore, people with obesity reported strategically managing their social relations in order to avoid stigmatising reactions by others in exercise settings, for example by exercising individually and avoiding social PA. Most notably, our results strongly indicate that not all self-excluding coping strategies result in less exercising. Conclusions In order to successfully promote physical activity among people with obesity, the various forms of self-exclusion should be taken into account as pathways of stigma regarding physical activity. People with obesity may exclude themselves from certain PA settings, yet could still be exercising on their own or in other ways. One focus of public health strategies should thus be directed at the potentially socially isolating effects.

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Section: Coping With Weight Stigma and Physical Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Weight stigma experiences and self-exclusion from sport and exercise settings among people with obesity

2021

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“…Exercise environments may be unwelcoming for women whose bodies deviate from size-normative standards of attractiveness, beauty, and the thin ideal [ 1 , 2 ]. Indeed, women living in larger bodies report a desire to avoid physical activity and exercise [ 3 ] and face many barriers to physical activity (e.g., apparel, stigma) [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Yet, not all actually avoid exercise [ 2 , 7 , 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Living in a Larger Body: Do Exercise Motives Influence Associations between Body Image and Exercise Avoidance Motivation?

Greenleaf

Rodriguez

2020

IJERPH

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The study explored reasons for exercise as possible mediators of the relationship between body appreciation and exercise avoidance motivation and between body surveillance and exercise avoidance motivation. Using a cross-sectional design, 131 women with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher completed measures of body surveillance, body appreciation, reasons for exercise, and exercise avoidance motivation. Mediation analyses indicated that appearance-oriented reasons for exercise partially mediated the body surveillance–exercise avoidance motivation relationship. Health and fitness professionals, organizations, and environments should avoid reinforcing appearance-oriented reasons for exercise. Rather, empowering exercise experiences and environments should be created as they seem to benefit women regardless of reasons for exercise.

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“…Fashion and merchandising experts should consider not only how the needs framed within the FEA model, including functionality, expressiveness, and aesthetics, can be better met, but also other ways in which constraints on personal control over apparel (Christel et al, 2016) create broader social justice (Lee & Cubbin, 2009) and identity issues (Meadows & Bombak, 2019). As Bishop, Gruys, and Evans (2018) contend, “Unequal access to clothes that fit appears to have implications for social inequality (p. 185).” The psychological, social, and physical benefits afforded to women who are able to manage their impressions and identities as physically active individuals are not distributed equally, and access to exercise apparel for women with larger bodies may play a role.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Greenleaf

Hauff

Klos

et al. 2019

Clothing and Textiles Research Journal

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Women, regardless of size, should have access to functional, fashionable, and affordable exercise apparel. Grounded in Lamb and Kallal’s Functional, Expressive, and Aesthetic Consumer Needs Model, we explored (a) women’s perceptions of plus-size exercise apparel and shopping experiences and (b) plus-size exercise apparel at online retailers. In Study 1, women reported their shopping behaviors, satisfaction, affect, and feedback for designer and retailers. In Study 2, availability, cost, and color variety of plus-size exercise T-shirts were documented at online retailers. Images of product models and sizing chart variations were examined. Women were generally dissatisfied with apparel-related functionality, fashionability, and cost. Plus-size exercise T-shirts at online retailers were limited in color variety and size availability and cost more than straight-size apparel. Unrealistic models and wide sizing variations appear problematic. Advocacy and action are needed to provide women with larger bodies’ equitable access to functional, expressive, aesthetic, and affordable exercise apparel.

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Yes, We Can (No, You Can’t): Weight Stigma, Exercise Self-Efficacy, and Active Fat Identity Development

Cited by 45 publications

References 95 publications

Weight stigma experiences and self-exclusion from sport and exercise settings among people with obesity

Weight stigma experiences and self-exclusion from sport and exercise settings among people with obesity

Living in a Larger Body: Do Exercise Motives Influence Associations between Body Image and Exercise Avoidance Motivation?

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

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