Perceptions of Youth Obesity Among Physical Educators

Weight bias and discrimination may be the last socially “accepted” prejudice (Puhl & Brownell, 1991), however, given the prevalence of overweight and sedentary youth, physical educators face a challenging task in promoting healthy weight attitudes and active lifestyles. Better understanding physical educators’ antifat attitudes and how those attitudes may influence their expectations of students is essential if physical education programs are to be effective. The purposes of this study were to (a) examine antifat attitudes among physical education teachers and students, (b) compare performance and ability expectations for normal and overweight youth, and (c) assess perceptions of the problem of youth obesity and the role of schools and physical education. Participants, 160 student and professional members of NASPE, completed a demographic and background questionnaire, the Antifat Attitudes Scale (AFAS; Morrison & O’Connor, 1999), an expectations questionnaire, and a perceptions of youth obesity and physical education questionnaire. Participants endorsed moderate antifat attitudes (M = 3.10, SD = 0.71) and personal weight control beliefs (M = 77.60, SD = 14.58). Normal weight youth were expected to perform better than overweight youth in endurance, flexibility, coordination, sport competence and strength (p < .001). Normal weight youth were also expected to have better overall physical, reasoning, cooperative, and social interaction abilities than overweight youth (p < .001). A 2 X 2 (gender x professional status) MANCOVA, with BMI as the covariate, revealed main effects for gender and professional status. Follow-up univariate tests revealed that males reported stronger antifat attitudes than females, F (1, 136) = 7.14, p < .05, η_p² = .05, and females had higher strength expectations than males for normal weight youth, F (1, 136) = 4.11, p < .05, η_p² = .029. Professional status differences (i.e., teacher status versus student status) were found in flexibility expectations, F (1, 136) = 8.86, p < .05, η_p² = .061, and coordination expectations, F (1, 136) = 4.438, p < .05, η_p² = .032, with females reporting higher expectations for normal weight youth than males. Participants overwhelmingly agreed that youth obesity is a concern and that schools are not doing enough to help overweight youth. They see themselves playing an important role by being a positive role model. Physical education professionals need to be aware of their own weight biases and prejudices and consider ways to create weight-friendly physical education classes so that youth of all body sizes and shapes can learn to value and enjoy physical activity.
Keyword(s): interdisciplinary, physical activity, research