Appearance vs. health motives for exercise and for weight loss

Objective: This study had three primary aims: (1) to investigate differences between restrained and unrestrained eaters in their reasons for exercise and their motives for losing weight; (2) to investigate the association of appearance and health motives for exercise and for losing weight with body image concerns; and (3) to determine whether appearance motives for exercise and for losing weight mediate the link between internalized societal standards of attractiveness and body image concerns. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Method: 205 women completed measures of dietary restraint, reasons for exercise, motivation for losing weight, internalization of societal standards of attractiveness, and body image concerns. Results: Unrestrained eaters were more motivated to exercise and to lose weight for health reasons than for appearance reasons, whereas restrained eaters were equally motivated by appearance and health reasons. Appearance-based motives for exercising and for losing weight were positively associated with body image concerns, whereas health-related reasons for exercise were negatively associated with body image concerns. Furthermore, in a multiple mediation analysis, appearance motives for weight loss mediated the relation between internalization of societal standards of attractiveness and body image concerns, but appearance reasons for exercise did not. Conclusion: These findings indicate that appearance-based motives for exercise and weight loss are associated with negative outcomes. Efforts to promote exercise and weight management should emphasize the health benefits rather than the implications for appearance.