The Association Between Weight-teasing And Vigorous Physical Activity

Abstract

Increased participation in physical activity is an effective strategy to reduce current levels of overweight among female college students. Several factors such as adapting to college lifestyle, difficult access to fitness facilities, and lack of social support affect college students’ participation in physical activity. A history of weight-teasing experiences may also be an important factor. PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between weight-teasing and physical activity participation among female college students, and whether this relationship was mediated by physical activity enjoyment. METHODS: Female college students participated in the study (n = 57). Participants wore accelerometers for seven days and completed the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale and the Perception of Teasing Scale. A body impedance scale was used to assess body composition. Pearson correlation and partial correlations controlling for body fat % were used to assess the association between weight teasing and physical activity participation. Mediation analysis was conducted using the Baron and Kenny 4-step regression model. RESULTS: Weight-teasing was negatively correlated to vigorous physical activity (r= -.23, p < .05). Physical activity enjoyment was negatively associated with the frequency of weight-related teasing (r= -.25, p < .05) and positively associated with vigorous physical activity (r= .48, p < .01). Correlations were not significant after controlling for body fat %. Although physical activity enjoyment was a significant predictor of the frequency of weight-teasing (p < .01) and vigorous physical activity (p < .05), weight-related teasing did not significantly predict vigorous physical activity (p = .08). CONCLUSION: Evidence for the association between weight-teasing and physical activity participation was inconsistent, not significant after controlling for body fat %, and not significant in the mediation analysis, while weight-teasing was associated with enjoyment of physical activity. It is important to design physical activity programs that female college students find enjoyable and safe, especially for overweight female participants. Further investigations about the relationship between weight teasing and physical activity are recommended.