Hot and Healthy

by WiredBerries Editors — August 21, 2007

New research suggests that women with body-image concerns are more likely to benefit from an exercise class where the instructor emphasizes the health benefits of the workout over improved appearance—even if those women chose the class in hopes of improving their physical appearance. When the focus was on health rather than looks, the women were more likely to enjoy the exercise and were more motivated to exercise regularly.

Researchers studied nearly 100 college-aged women with social physique anxiety, or a chronic worry that others are critiquing his or her body. Past research has revealed that most women worry about their body image to a point, but for most of us, it doesn’t reach the level of being classified as a disorder. Even so, the results, along with similar studies, suggests that working out with health in mind is more motivating than working out to improve your looks—even if that is an eventual goal.

So how does this apply to every day life? If you attend exercise classes, pick an instructor who emphasizes being healthy and fit rather than on losing weight or looking "hot." If you work out solo, make sure your "inner coach" is motivating you with positive comments about how fit and healthy you’re becoming, rather than obsess about the size of your thighs. Previous studies have found a similar effect with eating habits. People who focus on eating nutritious foods in order to be "healthy" tend to me more successful at maintaining their desired body size then people whose main focus is on becoming more attractive or thin.

So just remember, when it comes to looking good—it’s all about feeling good. If your focus is more on living a healthy lifestyle than appearances—you’ll stay more motivated and an improved physique will be a welcome fringe benefit.