Fitness culture needs to embrace all shapes and sizes
When Ragen Chastain set the Guinness World Record for the heaviest woman to complete a marathon, she said she hoped her record would soon be broken “to increase visibility of what larger people can do.”
As a self- identified “fit fatty,” Chastain is an advocate for the rights of people to engage in physical activity at any size. She and a growing number of others are shedding light on ways in which our society upholds barriers to movement among the overweight and obese.
“Fat people have to endure unwelcome comments, judgments and exclusions that can discourage our participation in fitness,” said Chastain, who weighed 288 pounds when she set the record in 2017. “We should be able to work out without being body-shamed.”
As a certified exercise physiologist, I’ve heard many stories like Chastain’s, and they’ve made me realize that we need to be doing a much better job at welcoming people of all sizes into movement without making assumptions about them.
Many folks who eschew regular workouts have said they are really avoiding the recurrence of painful past experiences, such as fellow gym-goers blatantly mocking them, trainers saying their physical efforts weren’t good enough and street harassment for simply taking a walk outside.
In the age of “tough love” training ushered in by the likes of Jillian Michaels and “The Biggest Loser,” most of the professional fitness industry has rendered itself illequipped to truly provide what many people at higher weights desire, including modifications; diverse, enjoyable training plans; and goalsetting outside of weight reduction.
Larger folks are excluded from fitness marketing, other than the dreaded “before” picture. Fitness equipment, including bike seats and some apparel, is often not sized to fit larger people comfortably. Those who have persevered and managed to build up serious fitness routines have said they are tired of always being seen as a beginner who should only be on the elliptical machine to lose weight, when they might be able to do more challenging weightlifting moves than thinner exercisers.
Wherever the negative messaging comes from, people internalize that stigma, which can lead to exercise avoidance or over-training.
Everyone can reduce weight stigma by reducing body shame. Start by treating all exercisers the same, and don’t assume anyone’s goal is weight loss. Reinforce a Larger people who exercise and have built up a solid fitness routine have said gym staffers often don’t take them seriously and might not realize, for example, that they can do more challenging weightlifting moves. positive, self-care mindset, especially when someone shares any kind of frustration with past exercise experiences. Keep in mind that even a small show of respect can make a big difference.
Fitness professionals should provide a plan that’s safe, interesting and sustainable, with a focus on building strength, stamina and flexibility. And a crucial part of showing people they belong in fitness is visibility. A fellow trainer once told me that she should quit because she was too big to be taken seriously by clients and peers. I disagree. I think her presence is necessary and the fitness industry needs to hire a more diverse set of trainers, coaches and weightinclusive professionals to create a true culture of wellness.