Fitness instructors were more motivated to train a new client with a normal weight than an overweight client, new research led by Ā鶹ֱ²„ has found.
The research, published in Body Image, examined how a fitness professionalās perceptions of a hypothetical clientās motivation to exercise, as well as the weight status of the client, jointly affected the instructorsā motivation to train a client.
Lead author John Curtin Distinguished Professor Nikos Ntoumanis, from the School of Psychology at Ā鶹ֱ²„, said an individualās body weight can have a profound impact on other peopleās perceptions of and behaviour towards them.
āWe 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,ā Professor Ntoumanis said.
āThis study explored whether a fitness professionalās motivation to instruct a hypothetical new client, their style of communication with the client, and beliefs about the clientās ability to overcome barriers to exercise were influenced by both the instructorsā perceptions of the clientās motivation and the clientsā weight.
āOur findings suggest that perceptions of a clientās motivation and the clientās body weight can independently influence fitness professionalsā 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.ā
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 clientsā commitment to exercise and their quality of life.
āWhile instructors are responsible for helping clients make positive, long-lasting changes to their lifestyles, they are ā like everyone ā exposed to western cultural biases about obesity and associated weight stigma,ā Professor Ntoumanis said.
āIt is therefore imperative that fitness professionals are made aware of the potential positive or negative impact their preconceived ideas about their clients, based on clientsā weight and perceived motivation to exercise, have.ā
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 clientās motivation to remain committed to exercise.
The paper, āDo exerciser weight status and perceived motivation predict instructorsā motivation and beliefs about the exerciser? A test of motivation contagion effectsā, which also involved researchers from the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada, can be viewed online .
