Fitness v fatness? Bodies, boundaries and bias in the gym

ABSTRACT

This study introduces the possibility of a new concept, ‘figuring’, to describe the contentious reactions and readings of non-conforming larger bodies and the spaces in which these occur. I illustrate this concept through an analysis of 15 semi-structured virtual interviews and participant journaling to uniquely explore the lived experiences of larger-bodied people in the gym. The key analytic construct ‘figuring’ put forward in this paper helps to theoretically advance work on body size and exercise by offering a way to conceptualise the role of environment (e.g. exercise contexts) in shaping boundaries of bodily difference. My findings articulate how physical activity spaces are implicated in ‘figuring’ space and are presented in three main themes; (1) the pursuit of the ‘ideal’, (2) presence: hyper-visibility and ‘belonging’ in space, and (3) mobilities: Intersections of gender and body size. This study expands our empirical understanding of people’s exercise experiences in gym environments by rendering visible the socio-spatial processes that create boundaries around participation in the gym along the lines of body size. My findings point to the need to intervene in the social and spatial dimensions of the gym, and potentially other exercise environments, to promote equity in access to physical activity.

KEYWORDS:

• Bodily difference
• fatness
• gyms
• healthism
• mobility
• physical activity

Acknowledgments

I would like to express my gratitude to Stephanie Coen, my undergraduate supervisor, for her continued support, expertise, and guidance throughout my research project, and critical reviews and feedback on this manuscript. Further to this, I would like to thank all the interviewees, who gave up their time to reflect upon and share their honest experiences of the gym, and for their genuine and generous interest in supporting me with this project. I would like to acknowledge the Geographies of Health & Wellbeing Research Group for recognising my dissertation with their Annual Undergraduate Dissertation Prize, and for their invaluable feedback and support in relation to my work.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

There was no financial support received for the conduct of research and/or preparation of this article.

Notes on contributors

Charlotte Ross

Charlotte Ross completed her Honours Bachelor of Arts in the School of Geography at the University of Nottingham (United Kingdom) where her undergraduate dissertation focused on the lived experiences of larger-bodied people within gym environments. Her research interests include critical geographies of health, qualitative and creative research methods, and emotional geographies.