The role of weight stigma and appearance-related concerns in the tendency to avoid physical activity and sport

This thesis looks at the relationship between weight stigma and appearance-related concerns with the tendency to avoid physical activity and sport. It developed a new scale to measure weight stigma and appearance-related concerns in the tendency to avoid physical activity and sport. The findings of this thesis clearly show that psychosocial factors, such as internalised weight stigma are contributing to the tendency to avoid physical activity and sport and therefore people are missing out on the physical and psychological benefits of being physically active.