Body fat stigma in gyms: consequences for adherence to nutritional monitoring

• Autor(a) principal: Santos, Bruna Gabriela Caso
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Brandão, Fernanda Lopes Soares, Maynard, Dayanne da Costa, Santos, Ana Cristina de Castro Pereira
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Research, Society and Development
• Texto Completo: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/31586
• topic: Estigma Social; Obesidad; Prejuicio de Peso; Centros de Acondicionamiento; Ciencias de la nutrición.; Social Stigma; Obesity; Weigth Prejudice; Fitness Centers; Nutritional sciences.; Estigma Social; Obesidade; Preconceito de Peso; Academias de ginástica; Ciências da nutrição.

The increase of obesity in the world and the stigma suffered by individuals with excess body fat in various environments is notorious. Fitness centers end up reinforcing it and may influence psychosocial aspects and adherence to nutritional monitoring. This study aimed to relate the consequences of the stigma of body fat in gyms with the adherence to nutritional monitoring. This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study. The sample was composed of 56 individuals (18 to 59 years old), of both genders, with BMI between 18.5 and 40 kg/m², who attend or have attended gyms. A questionnaire was applied, divided into three themes: sociodemographic data, stigma in the gym, and nutrition in gyms. The data were tabulated in MS Excel and statistically analyzed using SPSS software (version 21), comparing the variables using the chi-square and having a statistical relationship of p<0.05. The research resulted in a subtle relationship between body fat stigma and adherence to nutritional monitoring. Although the consequences for adherence were not evident in this study, it was found that overweight individuals suffer stigma through negative comments about their bodies; they feel stared at in the gym or ashamed of their weight; they have difficulty acquiring clothes, perceive prejudice coming from gym staff and nutritionists; and feel that the equipment is not adequate for their bodies. Thus, a multiprofessional follow-up is essential to deal with the issue and more studies are needed to investigate the stigma of body fat in gyms.