Weight-Inclusive Physical Activity: A Systematic Evaluation of Virtual Resources.

Area of Science:

• Public health
• Exercise science
• Digital health

Background:

• Weight stigma negatively impacts physical activity for higher-weight individuals.
• Weight-inclusive strategies can improve physical activity but practical applications are understudied.
• Online platforms are key for disseminating health information, necessitating an examination of virtual weight-inclusive resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically collect and evaluate publicly available, virtual weight-inclusive physical activity resources.
• To assess the adherence of online resources to weight-inclusive principles.

Main Methods:

• A virtual environmental scan using Google, Instagram, and snowball searches identified resources.
• Two independent coders evaluated eligible resources using an a priori codebook to assess weight-inclusive principles.

Main Results:

• Eighty weight-inclusive physical activity resources were identified, including educational materials (40%) and services (76.3%).
• Most virtual resources showcased body diversity, used inclusive language, and promoted mindful movement, though some contained weight-normative content.
• Resources targeted diverse bodies, offered various activities (yoga, dance, weight training), were often membership-based, and provided asynchronous access.

Conclusions:

• A systematic evaluation of virtual, weight-inclusive physical activity resources was conducted.
• Online resources adhering to weight-inclusive principles can enhance accessible physical activity opportunities for higher-weight individuals.