Associations between weight stigma and exercise avoidance motivation among college students: Exploring the roles of internalized weight stigma and social anxiety

Qingqing Li¹Ling Shao²Hansen Li³Yuping Zhu¹Yun Li^1,2*

• ¹Southwest University, Chongqing, China
• ²Chongqing University of Humanities Science and Technology, Chongqing, China
• ³Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China

Background: Weight stigma is linked to a range of adverse outcomes, including reduced engagement in physical activity, yet the psychological pathways underlying these associations remain insufficiently understood. This study investigates the relationship between weight stigma and motivation to avoid exercise, with a particular focus on the mediating roles of internalized weight stigma and social anxiety. Methods: A total of 1,397 Chinese university students (aged 17–25) were recruited via the online survey platform Sojump. Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing weight stigma, exercise avoidance motivation, internalized weight stigma, and social anxiety. Structural equation modeling was employed to evaluate the hypothesized relationships. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the College of Physical Education, Southwest University. Results: Correlational analyses suggested a partial mediation model, in which weight stigma contributed to exercise avoidance motivation both directly and indirectly via internalized weight stigma and social anxiety. Specifically, higher weight stigma was linked to greater internalized weight stigma (β = 0.45, p < 0.001), which, in turn, was associated with increased social anxiety (β = 0.40, p < 0.001), ultimately leading to heightened motivation to avoid exercise (β = 0.33, p < 0.001). Limitations: The limitations of this study include the use of a cross-sectional design, which cannot infer causal relationships, and the relatively small number of individuals with a high BMI in the sample, which may limit the broader applicability and generalizability of the findings. Conclusions: We recommend that interventions focus on reducing internalized weight stigma and social anxiety to help individuals overcome exercise avoidance motivation, thereby promoting physical activity and improving mental health.