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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Obesity | Research article

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

Authors: Hendrik K. Thedinga, Roman Zehl, Ansgar Thiel

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

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.

Available only for authorised users

The authors decided to use a person-first language (“person with obesity”). However, we would like to highlight that the question of how to respectfully use terminology associated with obesity is controversially discussed by stigma experts. Reporting an expert discussion on terminology and best practice from the 2015 Annual International Weight Stigma Conference, Meadows and Daníelsdóttir [2] point out that using the term ‘obesity’ itself is also problematic because it is based on “the medicalization of body state” ( [2] p.2). Scholars have therefore encouraged to use more neutral terms such as ‘higher weight’. Our study was originally designed before we became aware of this. Since the design included a distinction between overweight and obesity based on BMI, we cannot change the term post hoc and opted for a person-first language. Furthermore, the discriminatory experiences we sought to investigate are directly related to the stereotyped term of obesity. This is another reason why we could not avoid the term because the main goal of this study is to explore the stigmatisation of this socially constructed term. We encourage our readers to be critical of established terminology and suggest for further reading: [2, 75].

The authors would also like to highlight that ‘sport(s)‘in German has a wider meaning than in (American) English. Sport(s) in German can denote professional or organised sports; yet sport is also widely understood by German speaking people as exercise. For instance, going to the gym, or going for a run is often regarded as ‘sport’ by Germans.

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Title: Weight stigma experiences and self-exclusion from sport and exercise settings among people with obesity
Authors: Hendrik K. Thedinga
Roman Zehl
Ansgar Thiel
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Obesity
Obesity
Published in: BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10565-7

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

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

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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