Too fat to exercise? Obesity as a barrier to physical activity

OBJECTIVE: To describe perceptions of being 'too fat' as a barrier to physi cal activity by gender and body mass index, and to examine the associations between feeling fat and other weight-related barriers to physical activity . METHODS: Analyses of cross-sectional self-report data from a representative population survey of 2,298 Australian adults. RESULTS: Overall, 4.4% of respondents reported being too fat as a barrier t o physical activity; this being more common among women (6.2%), and among t he obese (22.6%). Associations were found between being too fat as a barrie r, and being too shy or embarrassed to exercise; being too lazy or not moti vated: having an injury or disability (males only); and being not the sport y type (females only). There was no association between feeling too fat and poor health. CONCLUSIONS: Feeling too fat to exercise is a common barrier among the over weight, particularly for women. Results suggest gender differences in weigh t-related barriers to physical activity. IMPLICATIONS: A better understanding of the nature of weight-related physic al activity barriers can help inform public health strategies designed to i ncrease physical activity among those who are obese.