Exploring the impact of physical activity-related weight stigma among women with self-identified obesity

ABSTRACT

Weight stigma contributes to negative health and health inequity. For women with obesity, weight stigma is prevalent in their everyday lives, including in the context of physical activity. Our current understanding of physical activity-related weight stigma is limited, and in-depth research is needed to promote inclusive and stigma-free physical activity. The purpose of this study was to understand how women with obesity experience, respond to, and perceive physical activity-related weight stigma. Sixteen women (aged 20–59 years) participated in semi-structured telephone interviews. Using Interpretive Description, a practice-based form of qualitative inquiry, we found that women’s experiences of physical activity-related weight stigma reflected structural, public, and self-stigma. These experiences included stigmatising comments and treatment, lack of appropriate and affordable clothing options, inaccessible exercise equipment, and weight-centric physical activity messages. In response, the women recounted feeling negative emotions (e.g. shame, sadness, guilt, anger) and had a heightened anticipation of stigma. They used self-protection techniques, attempted to change their body, and occasionally acted in resistance to socially held weight-related beliefs. Weight stigma impacted the women’s lives in a myriad of ways, which included viewing physical activity as a lose-lose situation and as a means to an end (i.e. for weight loss). For some women who reported resisting weight stigma, physical activity began to be uncoupled from body weight. The findings have implications for shifting physical activity promotion and practices to be more inclusive of women with obesity.

KEYWORDS:

• Health promotion
• interpretive description
• interviews
• obesity
• physical activity
• qualitative
• weight stigma
• women

Declarations of interest

none.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a Diabetes, Obesity, and Nutrition Strategic Clinical Network grant. MM received support through a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Vanier Graduate Scholarship. NMG received support through the Centre for Healthy Communities. TRB was supported by the Canada Research Chairs program.

Notes on contributors

Maxine Myre

Maxine Myre is a PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation. Her dissertation research examines the relationship between weight stigma and physical activity.

Nicole M. Glenn

Nicole M. Glenn, PhD, is a Senior Research Associate with the Centre for Healthy Communities, School of Public Health. Her community-engaged approach to research aims to support equity, inclusion, and well-being among diverse communities in ways that are sustainable and meaningful to the communities themselves.

Tanya R. Berry

Tanya R. Berry, PhD, is a Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation who is interested in physical activity promotion.