Active IQ is one of the UK’s largest organisations for leisure sector certifications, including level 2 and 3 personal training qualifications. CIMSPA is the professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector, committed to supporting, developing and enabling professionals and organisations to succeed and, as a result, inspire our nation to become more active.

Currently, the scope of these qualifications and standards is not only outdated but also fails to provide future fitness professionals with the nuance about health and wellbeing required to have a positive impact on the general population.

Recently, gyms thrust themselves into the spotlight with claims about playing an important role in maintaining the nation’s mental and physical health during the pandemic. This campaign resulted in them becoming an essential entity in all national lockdown tiers.

In contrast to these claims, it is estimated that only 14.5% of the UK population have a gym membership, with many of these being redundant (1). Recent figures also suggest that around 34% of men and 42% of women are not engaging in enough physical activity to promote health and wellbeing. Despite a substantial growth of the fitness industry in recent decades, the general population is around 20% less active than in the 1960s, which is estimated to rise to 35% by 2030 if trends continue (2).

The fitness industry is falling short in supporting the levels of physical activity which promote physical health and wellbeing. Also, the high dropout rate for personal trainers (estimated to be around 90% within the first year of entering the profession), suggests that a change in approach is needed (3).

When taking a closer look at the industry, it is clear that there is wide variation in the knowledge and practices among personal trainers. This is perhaps unsurprising given that research has identified a mismatch between the expectations placed upon fitness professionals and the training and professional education that is available to them (4). 

Of particular concern is the potential for personal trainers to promote higher levels of body dissatisfaction in clients, which is associated with a range of mental and physical health consequences. 

According to the Mental Health Foundation, ‘higher body dissatisfaction is associated with a poorer quality of life, psychological distress and the risk of unhealthy behaviours and eating disorders (5). 

The tendency to focus on weight loss, without regard for the mental and physical health implications of doing so, also risks worsening weight stigma. 

Weight stigma is defined as the negative associations felt and acted upon an individual based on their body size (6). It is particularly prevalent in fitness spaces, where people in larger bodies face the highest levels of judgement, shaming and avoidance (7).

Individuals who experience weight stigma are more likely to avoid exercise, regardless of their actual body size (8). Experiences of weight stigma at the gym are also associated with negative attitudes towards the gym, unhealthy coping behaviours, weight bias internalisation, unhealthy weight control practices, and poorer physical and emotional health (9). 

Despite the prevalence of weight stigma in fitness spaces and the significant consequences, there is no mention of weight stigma in the Active IQ qualifications. This campaign aims to raise awareness about the harmful consequences of weight stigma and encourage Active IQ to update its qualifications. This will enable fitness professionals to create safe, accessible and inclusive spaces.

This campaign aims to highlight areas of change for both CIMSPA and Active IQ, for the personal trainer standards and curriculum to provide greater understanding for fitness professionals so they can reduce harm for their clients.

1) Include information about weight stigma, the physical and psychological implications and how this can be a barrier to feeling included in physical activity spaces in the Active IQ qualifications.

2) There is a growing body of research to suggest that weight is not an accurate or adequate measure of overall health, and that intentional weight loss is highly unlikely to be successful or to lead to improved health outcomes (10). 
There are currently no references to the social determinants of health which account for the largest proportion of an individual’s health outcomes over both the short and long-term (11).

3) Despite the suggestion to take physical measurements as a marker of progress for clients, there is no reference to body image and how these behaviours can negatively impact an individual's self-esteem (12).

4) BMI has limited use even in a medical capacity and should be dropped from the curriculum. This use of BMI should be considered out of the scope of practice for personal trainers as it is a statistical measurement and not one of individual health.

5) Although the current qualifications give no reference to the use of calorie counting apps, this is a common suggested behaviour by fitness professionals to their clients. Research has demonstrated that using calorie and food tracking tools is associated with disordered eating and exercise behaviours around food and exercise (13). To reduce harm, fitness professionals need to understand the risks associated with food and exercise tracking tools, and to communicate these to clients. 

Outcomes

1) Physical activity, regardless of weight or body size, is important for both physical and mental health. Making fitness professionals aware of the harmful impacts of weight stigma and providing them with information about the social determinants of health will enable them to better support their clients. Informing clients about the negative implications of behaviours such as calorie counting will give them autonomy in making decisions that honour their physical health and wellbeing. 

2) Raising awareness of how weight stigma can act as a barrier to exercise will also help fitness professionals tailor their marketing to create inclusive, ethical and evidence-based services and spaces. This will ensure that clients feel supported and mean that they are more likely to be physically active over the long-term. 

3) If fitness professionals and physical activity spaces can reduce weight stigma in their messaging, practices and environments, they also have the potential to capitalise on a largely untapped market, leading to greater profitability and sustainability for the industry.

References:

1) Fitness industry in the United Kingdom (2020). Available at: https://www.statista.com/topics/3411/fitness-industry-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/ Accessed 05/12/20
2) Public Health England (2019) Physical activity: applying All Our Health. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/physical-activity-applying-all-our-health/physical-activity-applying-all-our-health Accessed 05/12/20
3) Wellness Creative Co (2020). Available at: https://www.wellnesscreatives.com/becoming-a-personal-trainer-reasons-quit/ Accessed 05/12/20
4) De Lyon, A. T., Neville, R. D., & Armour, K. M. (2017). The role of fitness professionals in public health: a review of the literature. Quest, 69(3), 313-330.
5) Mental Health Foundation (2019). Available at: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/body-image-report/exec-summary Accessed 05/12/20
6) Brewis, A. A., Hruschka, D. J., & Wutich, A. (2011). Vulnerability to fat-stigma in women’s everyday relationships. Social Science & Medicine, 73(4), 491-497.
7) Cardinal, B. J., Whitney, A. R., Narimatsu, M., Hubert, N., & Souza, B. J. (2014). Obesity bias in the gym: An under-recognized social justice, diversity, and inclusivity issue.
8) Vartanian, L. R., & Shaprow, J. G. (2008). Effects of weight stigma on exercise motivation and behavior: a preliminary investigation among college-aged females. Journal of health psychology, 13(1), 131-138.
9) Schvey, N. A., Sbrocco, T., Bakalar, J. L., Ress, R., Barmine, M., Gorlick, J., ... & Tanofsky-Kraff, M. (2017). The experience of weight stigma among gym members with overweight and obesity. Stigma and Health, 2(4), 292.
10) Tomiyama, A. J., Ahlstrom, B., & Mann, T. (2013). Long‐term effects of dieting: Is weight loss related to health?. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 7(12), 861-877.
11) Taylor, L. A., Tan, A. X., Coyle, C. E., Ndumele, C., Rogan, E., Canavan, M., ... & Bradley, E. H. (2016). Leveraging the social determinants of health: what works?. PLoS One, 11(8), e0160217.
12) Plateau, C. R., McDermott, H. J., Arcelus, J., & Meyer, C. (2014). Identifying and preventing disordered eating among athletes: Perceptions of track and field coaches. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 15(6), 721-728.
13) Plateau, C. R., Bone, S., Lanning, E., & Meyer, C. (2018). Monitoring eating and activity: links with disordered eating, compulsive exercise, and general wellbeing among young adults. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 51(11), 1270-1276.

We are a group of fitness professionals from across the UK. For updates and more information we can be found on Instagram @againstweightstigma