Fitness instructors were more motivated to train a new client with a normal weight than an overweight client, new research led by Curtin University has found.<\/p>\n
The research, published in Body Image<\/em>, examined how a fitness professional\u2019s perceptions of a hypothetical client\u2019s motivation to exercise, as well as the weight status of the client, jointly affected the instructors\u2019 motivation to train a client.<\/p>\n Lead author John Curtin Distinguished Professor Nikos Ntoumanis, from the School of Psychology at Curtin University, said an individual\u2019s body weight can have a profound impact on other people\u2019s perceptions of and behaviour towards them.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know from past research that people who are overweight and obese report experiencing weight-based discrimination, stigmatisation and unjust treatments across various sectors, including the exercise industry,\u201d Professor Ntoumanis said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis study explored whether a fitness professional\u2019s motivation to instruct a hypothetical new client, their style of communication with the client, and beliefs about the client\u2019s ability to overcome barriers to exercise were influenced by both the instructors\u2019 perceptions of the client\u2019s motivation and the clients\u2019 weight.<\/p>\n \u201cOur findings suggest that perceptions of a client\u2019s motivation and the client\u2019s body weight can independently influence fitness professionals\u2019 motivation to instruct, interactions with and beliefs about their clients. In a nutshell, fitness instructors were more motivated to train people with a normal weight than those who were overweight. It also shows fitness instructors were more motivated to train people who were motivated for internal reasons, such as the importance of exercise, as opposed to external reasons, including pressure from others.\u201d<\/p>\n Professor Ntoumanis said future research should examine how weight-stigmatising attitudes and interactions within the exercise sector could potentially negatively affect the quality of the service fitness instructors provided, and subsequently impact the overweight clients\u2019 commitment to exercise and their quality of life.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile instructors are responsible for helping clients make positive, long-lasting changes to their lifestyles, they are \u2013 like everyone \u2013 exposed to western cultural biases about obesity and associated weight stigma,\u201d Professor Ntoumanis said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is therefore imperative that fitness professionals are made aware of the potential positive or negative impact their preconceived ideas about their clients, based on clients\u2019 weight and perceived motivation to exercise, have.\u201d<\/p>\n Professor Ntoumanis said preliminary research findings from other studies indicated brief educational films targeting weight bias and additional motivation training for fitness professionals could help improve the quality of service and a client\u2019s motivation to remain committed to exercise.<\/p>\n