Attitudes and Perceptions of Fitness Professionals Regarding Obesity

The purpose of this study was to assess perceptions of exercise professionals regarding obesity. A three page, 25-item survey was mailed to a random sample of 500 certified Health Fitness Instructors, Exercise Test Technologists, and Exercise Specialists from a certification list provided by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The return rate was 66%. Most exercise professionals (74%) supervised or worked directly with obese clients in an exercise/fitness setting. The majority of exercise professionals believed that normal weight is very important to a person's health, that physical activity is very important in the treatment of obesity, that they should be role models by maintaining normal weight, that they are obligated to counsel obese persons concerning the health risks of obesity, that they are very competent to prescribe exercise programs for weight loss, and that counseling obese persons on exercise for weight loss is professionally gratifying. The majority of exercise professionals also believed sedentary lifestyles, poor eating behavior, excessive calorie consumption, and psychological problems play a major role in most obesity. Exercise professionals reported that they received most of their information on weight control from textbooks, college classes, scientific journals, workshops/seminars, and past experience.