Exercise for Health Not Appearance

A recent study conducted by Ohio State University and funded by a grant from the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology explored the relevancy of exercise and body image to determine the best way to approach fitness.

The study revealed that women with chronic issues about their body image benefit more from an exercise class where the instructor discusses the health benefits of working out rather than a class where the instructor emphasizes an improved appearance.

The study involved almost 100 women of college age with social physique anxiety, a disorder that makes a person worry constantly about what others think of his or her body.

According to Brian Focht, a co-author of the study and assistant professor of health promotion and health behavior at Ohio State University, "Women who have this disorder usually are interested in exercise to improve their appearance, but an instructor who emphasizes physique during a workout may deter such students from coming back. We want to design the most beneficial exercise programs for different groups of people, and understanding how people respond to different approaches to exercise is key to doing so. We expected the mirrors to have some effect on these women, but that wasn't the case. It was the instructor's leadership style that had a direct effect on the students' attitudes."

With this in mind, it is not seeing yourself in the mirror that can be the most discouraging...it is your attitude about fitness. If you workout solely for the purposes of looking good, it becomes a frustrating, empty experience. Focusing on the physical and health benefits of working out is inspiring because your attention is directed at feeling your best rather than looking your best.

When you feel healthy and have a positive daily diet and exercise habits, a more attractive figure follows naturally.