Overcoming weight bias: promoting physical activity and psychosocial health. Issue 4 (9th December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: H. Taylor, Valerie; Lou Watkins, Patti; Ebbeck, Vicki; S. Levy, Susan
• Is Part Of: Ethnicity and inequalities in health and social care. Volume 7:Issue 4(2014)
• Page Start: 187
• Page End: 197
• Publication Date: 2014-12-09
• Subjects: Discrimination in medical care -- Periodicals; Minorities -- Medical care -- Periodicals; Social work with minorities -- Periodicals; Cultural competence -- Periodicals; 362.84
• DOI: 10.1108/EIHSC-11-2013-0043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-0980

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Purpose</title> <p> – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate Feel WonderFull Fitness (FWF), a program adhering to the Health At Every SizeTM (HAES) paradigm, on larger women's physical activity and psychosocial health. FWF was tailored to overcome barriers based on weight bias. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Design/methodology/approach</title> <p> – The study compared "overweight" and "obese" women in FWF to those not currently enrolled in formal exercise programs. Controls were divided into low physical activity (LPA) and moderate physical activity (MPA) conditions based on pretest exercise level. Outcome measures were collected at pretest and three months later at posttest. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Findings</title> <p> – FWF participants had the greatest gains in physical activity and demonstrated significantly greater improvements in depression than the LPA group. FWF and the MPA group showed more improved scores on perceived body attractiveness than the LPA group. Scores on an eating disorders measure improved for all groups, but somewhat more so for the FWF group. Improvements occurred in the absence of weight loss or decreases in body mass index and body fat percentage. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Research limitation</title> <p> – The study was based on a small, homogenous sample using a quasi-experimental design. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Practical implications</title> <p> – The study illustrates HAES strategies that practitioners might incorporate into various health and fitness settings. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Social implications</title> <p> – The study highlights weight bias as a social justice issue and as a barrier to physical activity participation for larger women. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Originality/value</title> <p> – The study adds to a growing body of literature evaluating HAES approaches, with HAES representing a novel alternative to weight-loss interventions for improving psychosocial health among larger women. It also contributes to the literature on weight bias that has been understudied relative to bias based on other areas of difference.</p> </sec> </abstract>