Motivated, Fit, and Strong—Using Counter‐Stereotypical Images to Reduce Weight Stigma Internalisation in Women with Obesity

Abstract

BackgroundThis study aimed to use implicit retraining to change automatic associations between body size and physical activity (PA) in women with obesity to reduce weight bias internalisation (WBI).MethodsA Solomon‐square experimental design was used to determine the effect of a four‐week online implicit retraining intervention on WBI (primary measure) and PA attitudes, self‐efficacy, and self‐reported behaviour (secondary measures). The intervention was a visual probe task pairing counter‐stereotypical images of active individuals with obesity with positive PA‐related words. In qualitative telephone interviews, a sub‐sample of participants provided feedback and recommendations for using counter‐stereotypical images in PA promotion.ResultsWomen completed the intervention (n = 48) or a control task (n = 55). Results of a RM‐ANOVA showed no interaction or main effect of group on WBI. A main effect of time demonstrated that both groups had reduced WBI between pre‐test and post‐test, through to one‐week follow‐up. There were no differences between groups or over time for PA attitudes, self‐efficacy, or behaviour. Women who completed interviews (n = 16) discussed several benefits and drawbacks of using counter‐stereotypical images.ConclusionImplicit retraining did not reduce WBI but qualitative findings support the use of counter‐stereotypical PA images.

Effects of physical‐activity‐related anti‐weight stigma materials on implicit and explicit evaluations

“…This finding supports the skepticism expressed by women with obesity that images such as those created by Obesity Canada will have any effect on weight stigma. 10 The findings also corroborate the fear of women who experienced discrimination in physical activity settings that physical activity spaces may not be safe. 10 Study 2 demonstrated that participants with no history of obesity who viewed a video that discussed physical activity but not obesity (i.e., the control video) followed by the images of people without obesity had the lowest explicit weight stigma.…”

“…10 The findings also corroborate the fear of women who experienced discrimination in physical activity settings that physical activity spaces may not be safe. 10 Study 2 demonstrated that participants with no history of obesity who viewed a video that discussed physical activity but not obesity (i.e., the control video) followed by the images of people without obesity had the lowest explicit weight stigma. These participants also demonstrated the most positive implicit evaluations of the control images compared to the images of people with obesity, but this relationship did not differ by video or image condition.…”

“…There were no differences in implicit evaluations or explicit weight stigma by IAT order, LTPA, education group, or citizenship group. Men reported Following recommendations of other researchers, 10 it was decided to explore differences in implicit evaluations by selfidentified living with obesity groups (yes/no) and having friends or family with obesity (yes/no). The results are shown in Table 2.…”

“…These results support the concerns made by women living with obesity who while finding the physical activity images from Obesity Canada motivating and relatable, were still doubtful the images would be well received by members of the general public. 10 The hypothesis that negative implicit evaluations of the images of people with obesity would be related to higher weight stigma was not supported. As outlined in Figure 1, participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: obesity and exercise video and images of persons with obesity, control video and images of persons with obesity, obesity and exercise video and control images, or control video and control images.…”

“…9 Women with obesity have also questioned whether the physical activity images created by Obesity Canada would have the desired effect of changing stereotyped perceptions that are created by more generally seen images of physical activity. 10 The research reported here also compared images of people with obesity being active to pictures of people without obesity being active because there is evidence that exercisers benefit from a generally positive stereotype. 11,12 The positive exerciser stereotype literature indicates that exercisers are considered to be happier, more motivated, energetic and disciplined, and also more committed and busy, than nonexercisers.…”