Motivational processes of the relationship between weight stigma and physical activity: a comparison between France and Mexico

ABSTRACT

A growing body of research identifies weight stigma as a motivational barrier to physical activity (PA) participation. The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to better understand the motivational processes involved in the associations between weight stigma and PA (motivation to avoid exercise and self-control resources); and (2) to examine this question in a White, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) country, and a non-WEIRD country with different obesity prevalence: France and Mexico. French (N = 200) and Mexican (N = 153) participants completed an online questionnaire measuring weight stigma constructs (perceived discrimination, weight stigma concerns, and weight bias internalisation), motivational processes, and PA. Main results showed that motivation to avoid exercise and self-control resources operated as two independent processes of the weight stigma – PA relationship: The higher weight stigma, the higher their motivation to avoid exercise, and the lower their self-control resources, both resulting in lower PA. Results also showed both differences (in the levels of weight stigma constructs) and similarities (in the weight stigma processes) between France and Mexico, suggesting the importance of investigating weight stigma in both WEIRD and non-WEIRD countries.

KEYWORDS:

• Weight stigma
• physical activity
• avoidance motivation
• self-control resources
• cross-cultural comparison

Data availability statement

Data and materials supporting the findings of this study are available from the first author [ARJ], upon reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Given that Vartanian and Novak (2011) observed that weight bias internalization moderated the relationship between perceived discrimination and motivation to avoid exercise, preliminary analyses were carried out to check whether weight stivgma processes moderated each other. Results revealed no significant interactions (see Table 1 of the online supplemental materials).

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by The CONACYT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Teconología) International Scholarship under which the main author’s Ph.D. is funded; National Council of Science and Technology, Mexico .