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.
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none.
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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
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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.