Too Heavy to Move? The Real Weight of Bias

When Bias becomes a burden, physical activity feels impossible

Abstract

People in larger bodies often experience weight bias within physical activity settings, which significantly effects their relationship with physical activity (1). Weight bias refers to negative weight related judgements that are often made towards people living in larger bodies. People in larger bodies are often encouraged to exercise for weight management but are also consistently mistreated and judged in public physical activity spaces (2). This creates a lose-lose situation fostering fear of judgement, lower self-confidence and a greater tendency to avoid all forms of physical activity (3,4). Despite the known health benefits of physical activity, persistent bias undermines physical activity engagement and contributes to poor health outcomes. For fitness and health professionals, recognizing this dynamic is crucial. To foster truly inclusive physical activity environments, a weight inclusive approach is essential (5). This means prioritize movement for its diverse benefits like strength, stress relief, mobility, and mental well-being, rather than solely focusing on weight management (6). Practitioners must also reflect on their own biases, in order to create physical activity spaces that are accessible, safe, and respectful for all body sizes, emphasizing health and quality of life over, weight or size related outcomes (7).