The relationship between body image and exercise

Someone posted a comment on another thread this morning that basically said, "I've lost 13 pounds, but now I feel fatter and more self-conscious." I'm starting this thread to reply to that post and to expand on the topic of body image.

I am a professional researcher, and although the psychology of weight loss is not my area of academic expertise, I co-authored a meta-analysis study (soon to be published) that examined something like 200 research studies about the relationship between body image and exercise. What we found is that there's strong and powerful evidence indicating that people who engage in at least some form of evidence tend to have a more positive body image than those who do not.

This doesn't mean that skinny gym junkies always feel better about themselves than obese couch potatoes. What it means is that activity level alone is an important factor in how we view our bodies.

My own real experience with this has less to do with the research than with my own real life experience.

I continue to struggle with a lifelong problem with my weight. I am currently making good progress with a healthy diet and moderate exercise.

I have noticed over and over in my lifetime that, during periods of low physical activity (due to work demands, weather, illness, motivation, or whatever), I tend to feel fat and ugly. During periods of daily exercise - even if it's rather light - my body image tends to improve dramatically. Even if my weight does not change, I feel lighter, more attractive, healthier, and more agile.

One of the first signs that an exercise program is working for me is when I feel a bit of a "spring in my step" when I'm simply walking to the office from the car. Instead of that depressing feeling of dragging my tired body around, I begin to sense the movements of the bones and muscles, I notice that I'm less out of breath, and I notice that I hold my head a little higher.

These small signs translate into an attitude of "I think I can ...I think I can ..."

They also begin to translate into a vastly improved sense of how I look. That might encourage me to fix my hair a little differently, pull out a pair of my "less fat" jeans and see if I can squeeze into them yet, or some other affirmation of my physical self.

All this is a very long-winded way of saying this ...

Listen to the words of this geeky old researcher who's actually lived with these issues and SHAKE A LEG. Do whatever physical activity your body will do. Do it MODERATELY every day every day every day.

You won't feel worse, and I can practically guarantee you'll feel better.

Gotta run -- this makes me want to go for a walk!

Mon. Jul 16, 3:03pm

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