Effect of Weight Self-Stigma and Self-Esteem on Aerobic Exercise Capacity in Adult Women with Different Body Compositions

Monira I. Aldhahi, Wafa K. Al Khalil, Rawan B. Almutiri, Mada M. Alyousefi, Bayader S. Alharkan and Haya AnNasban
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Monira I. Aldhahi: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Wafa K. Al Khalil: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Rawan B. Almutiri: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Mada M. Alyousefi: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Bayader S. Alharkan: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Haya AnNasban: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Overweight individuals face weight-related stigmatization, driving self-exclusion from exercise and physical activity. The extent to which weight self-stigma and self-esteem are associated with aerobic capacity remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the cardiopulmonary fitness, weight self-stigma, and self-esteem of overweight women and examine whether weight self-stigma and self-esteem predict cardiopulmonary aerobic capacity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 66 women stratified into two groups: a normal weight (NW) group and an overweight (OW) group. The mean body mass indexes and ages of the NW and OW groups were 20.4 ± 0.36 kg/m 2 and 29.5 ± 0.8 kg/m 2 , and 24 ± 7 years and 21 ± 3 years, respectively. Submaximal exercise testing using the modified Bruce treadmill protocol was conducted to measure the predicted oxygen uptake (VO 2 peak ) and energy expenditure. The Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used. Results: Significantly lower mean of predicted VO 2 peak and higher mean of energy expenditure were reported in the OW group compared with the NW group (25.8 ± 5.3 mL/kg/min vs. 28.7 ± 4.8 mL/kg/min, p = 0.001 and 9.7 ± 1.9 kcal/min vs. 7.5 ± 1.8 kcal, p = 0.03, respectively). There was a significant difference in weight self-stigma and self-esteem between the groups. Regression model analysis indicated that weight self-stigma and self-esteem explained 45% of the variance in the predicted VO 2 peak . Conclusion: Strategies enhancing self-esteem and avoiding stigmatization should be embraced to promote fitness and engagement in physical activity among OW women.

Keywords: cardiopulmonary fitness capacity; self-esteem; weight self-stigma; obesity; overweight; body composition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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