An Interpretative Phenomenological Investigation of the Experiences of Physically Active Women Living in Large Bodies
Date
2019-08-27
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Abstract
Weight stigma, the devaluation of individuals perceived to be large-bodied, can be an obstacle to participation in physical activity. Although perceived, internalized, and experienced weight stigma are correlated with physical activity avoidance, many women who live in large bodies are physically active. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, this research explored how six adult women who identified as both large-bodied and physically active understood their lived experiences. The analysis uncovered five superordinate themes central to the participants’ experiences: (1) largeness as a representation of a flaw or failure, (2) distancing from the largeness-as-flaw perspective, (3) patterns of contradictory perspectives, (4) adoption of a (too-) large-body identity, and (5) protective mechanism that mitigate harm. Participants adopted a large-body identity, managed their large-body identity in the context of weight stigma, and understood and navigated between two contradictory ways of viewing body size and physical activity. This research is valuable on two levels. Firstly, it deepened the understanding of the lived experience of physically active women who live in large bodies. Secondly, it explored the identity management of women who saw themselves as physically active and large-bodied. This research offered a number of implications for counselling, medical, and physical activity professions. Professionals should be aware of the complicated relationships clients may have with physical activity and body size. Additionally, short-term mental-health and wellbeing benefits of physical activity may be more effective motivators toward physical-activity identity development in women who identify as large-bodied compared to weight loss.
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Body size, Weight stigma, Physical activity, Interpretative phenomenological analysis, Living in a large body, Identity
Citation
Lambert, A. M. (2019). An Interpretative Phenomenological Investigation of the Experiences of Physically Active Women Living in Large Bodies (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.