@thephitcoach

Jake Gifford

✖️PhD Researcher ✖️Reframing fitness for people of all shapes, sizes & abilities ✖️ Click 👇🏻 for writing, interviews & more
Updated: 16 months ago

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The Rise & Fall of London 2012's Legacy.
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The lead-up to London 2012 was filled with hope and ambition.
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Hope and ambition to inspire a generation to get more active. and increase overall population participation in physical activity (PA).
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The UK government even drew up a ten-point plan to secure a lasting legacy from the Olympic games.
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Yet 10 years on, and despite efforts to boost engagement, results have failed to materialise. 
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In fact, since London 2012 there have been no meaningful changes in PA participation amongst the population.
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In the 3 years following the London Olympics, activity levels actually decreased.
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Since 2015, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Sport England have spent £323m per annum yet have been unable to adequately move the needle when it comes to getting people more active.
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Some of the likely reasons for this include a lack of focus & commitment to addressing the widening inequalities which shape barriers and opportunities to participation.
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Approaches to PA have traditionally focussed on individuals (time and motivation) despite the increasing evidence of inequalities that shape participation. PA might be a behaviour, but it is influenced by a web of factors and follows a social gradient meaning social, economic, and cultural factors can enhance or constrain a person’s opportunities to get active.
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Another reason is our failure to fully recognise the lifelong experiences of PA, particularly sport and exercise. Negative experiences are more common than we think. It’s important that we recognise these experiences and address them early on through better interventions.
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We also spend too much focus on sport and exercise. Though they are important, efforts to increase population PA might be better focussed on PA more broadly with a particular focus on active travel. This requires the political will and commitment to appropriately plan and implement but is something we should all get behind.
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If we hope to change activity levels there ultimately needs to be a focus on the bigger picture and take into account the social, economic, and cultural factors which impact individuals.
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What are your thoughts? 2023-01-10 22:45:59 The Rise & Fall of L.. 161 +8% 21 +224%
Rising fuel prices.
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Skyrocketing energy bills.
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An upsurge in foodbank usage.
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We’re in the midst of a cost of living crisis where people are feeling the squeeze.
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According to ONS figures, there are currently 14.1 million people in the UK living in poverty.
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With inflation now hitting 9.1%, the Resolution foundation estimates that the number will rise by an additional 1.3 million over the next year.
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Poverty has a profound impact on our health and wellbeing.
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In the UK the poorest in society will on average spend 18.5 years more in poorer health compared to the wealthiest in society.
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People in poverty are at a greater risk of debt which can harm physical and mental health.
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They have fewer choices and opportunities to engage in behaviours such as physical activity.
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Whilst households in the bottom 10% would have to spend 74% of their income to follow the UK government’s EatWell guide.
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Poverty is not inevitable. However it cannot be solved focussing on individuals. It requires top down thinking and policies that address the root causes.
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#health #wellbeing #poverty #socialdeterminantsofhealth #inequality 2022-06-24 22:05:18 Rising fuel prices. ... 41 -73% 6 -7%
Researchers, policymakers, and practitioners have all recognised the importance of gender in relation to health outcomes and inequalities.
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Yet men's health inequalities are not something frequently recognised, nor do they regularly appear in the media.
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Nevertheless, they are a prevalent issue that needs addressing in conjunction with women's health inequalities. 
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For example, globally, the life expectancy for men is 4.5 years lower than the life expectancy for women.
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Whilst in the UK 1 in 5 men die before the age of 65 with suicide being the largest cause of death for men under 50.
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Men's health inequalities are also much starker in high-income countries compared to low-income countries. 
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This highlights that these differences are not primarily driven by biology, but by the conditions in which we are born, live, and work.
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Some of these social factors include...
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◾️Stereotypes, beliefs, and perceptions of masculinity which can create social barriers to access to appropriate interventions.
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◾️Greater representation in higher risk occupations.
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◾️Higher prevalence of behaviours such as smoking and alcohol use.
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◾️Greater representation in social conditions such as imprisonment, homelessness and unemployment.
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There is growing evidence that gender-responsive approaches to men's health have a positive impact on health outcomes.
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Yet only four countries have commissioned health strategies and policies which address men's health and tackle stereotypes related to men.
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This needs to change.
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It's important that we close the gap on all forms of health inequalities, To do this, we need to begin by recognising that there are inequalities in places we may not immediately assume.
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Secondly, we need to better understand men's needs, barriers, and experiences in relation to their own health and wellbeing as well as the roles other factors may play in shaping all of the above.
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Once we've gained a better understanding, we need to adopt specific approaches that support men rather than generic strategies which don't recognise gendered differences.
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What are your thoughts? 2022-06-20 22:27:04 Researche.. 0 -100% 2 -69%
In the midst of a cost of living crisis, good quality of live is becoming increasingly difficult for many.
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People are having to make decisions that don’t just affect them financially but have lasting effects on their health and well-being.
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However, good health and quality of life shouldn’t be reserved for a select few.
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Everyone should have the opportunity to access resources that support their health and well-being.
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Despite this, responses to those struggling with food have been poor, with many suggesting making meals for 30p and questioning why people in poverty have access to smart phones.
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Life should be more than simply existing or providing people with the bare minimum. People should have the opportunities to thrive regardless of their social background.
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Part of that is increasing access to activities and services by reducing barriers and widening access to participation and support. This goes beyond the common rhetoric of individual responsibility.
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Good health and wellbeing should be a right, not a luxury and it’s time we recognise this. 2022-05-19 23:47:37 In the midst of a c.. 0 -100% 5 -23%
It’s #mentalhealthawarenessweek and this year’s theme is loneliness.
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Loneliness can affect anyone.
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Loneliness can significantly impact a person's physical & mental health or wellbeing. It can negatively impact how we might feel about ourselves and others too, Though age is an important factor, loneliness affects many different people across the population and isn't something that is only experienced by older people.
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Data from Understanding Society indicates that 13% of people in the UK experience loneliness.
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There is a broad range of experiences when it comes to loneliness and definitions amongst researchers and policymakers might vary. In 2019, The What Works Centre for Wellbeing collated 144 sources and identified three types of loneliness as part of their review.
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◾️Social loneliness
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◾️Existential loneliness
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◾️Emotional loneliness
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Loneliness is a public health issue and one which is multi-faceted, complex, and experienced differently as a consequence of various factors such as gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, class, or health status. As a consequence, there a variety of approaches need to be explored to find what might be beneficial for different people.
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Physical activity can offer health & wellbeing benefits to a broad range of people. Improving wellbeing and alleviating loneliness isn't necessarily solely about the activities themselves, but the spaces and places where activity occurs.
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Activities that occur outdoors or within community settings such as cycling or dance projects can offer people opportunities to develop friendships, deeper social connections, and create solidarity with others who may share similar interests and values. 
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How can we better support wellbeing & alleviate loneliness particularly in relation to cultural and physical activity?
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✅Create spaces that are safe and free from judgement.
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✅Create environments that support positive relationships and encourage social connections.
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✅ Produce spaces that help people thrive and explore creativity.
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✅ Provide people with a voice and address their individual needs when delivering activity.
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If you’ve found this useful/interesting then let me know below 👇🏻 2022-05-11 22:50:28 .. 0 -100% 3 -54%
We know that for the vast majority some physical activity in our daily lives can offer benefits to our health and wellbeing.
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We might think that in order to be active we have to go to a gym or class, opt for a run or perform some form other of exercise during our free time.
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However, this isn’t necessarily the case, because physical activity is not a synonym for exercise.
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It’s so much more.
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Physical activity, or what I sometimes describe simply as ‘movement’, is any type of movement produced by our muscles at any given intensity.
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That means whilst physical activity does encompass exercise, it also includes getting to and from work, housework, picking up your children, physical tasks, and generally just moving your body.
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Understanding that physical activity (and its benefits) includes more than just exercise is important in getting people more engaged, particularly for those who may struggle with exercise but want to be and remain active.
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Not everyone may enjoy exercise or sports, but many do enjoy other activities that provide benefits that can and should be encouraged.
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We don’t need to confine ourselves to believe there’s only a certain way to move that counts or that we should promote.
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Providing people with more opportunities and options to engage in physical activity in a more positive way is a better approach to take than funnelling people into a box and undermining other ways to move. 2022-04-05 22:32:21 We know that .. 136 -9% 7 +8%
I’ve been thinking a lot about interventions lately and how we can better support people, improve outcomes and create great experiences.
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So, here are 8 questions to consider 👇🏻
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▪️What’s the strength of the evidence for outcomes? It’s important that an intervention works & has a strong evidence base for a given population.
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▪️What impact does delivery have on access and outcomes and experiences? For example, digital & in-person interventions may differ. Another example is who delivers it. Evidence might support the delivery for an intervention from trained staff but won’t necessarily confer the same outcomes/benefits without those with the same training.
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▪️Who is likely to access it and benefit from it? Many interventions focus on individual behaviour change & are likely to have a limited impact on those with low incomes compared to those with high incomes. 
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▪️How do external factors and social processes influence outcomes (and experiences) of interventions? Behaviour is multi-factorial, so different factors may impact the decisions and behaviours that may lead to different outcomes.
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▪️Do the benefits outweigh the risks? No intervention is risk-free, however, the benefit/risk ratio is likely to differ between population groups so needs to be considered before implementing.
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▪️What are the unintended consequences? There are always potential consequences that may be overlooked or misunderstood. Understanding what they are at both an individual and population level is necessary to improving design and therefore outcomes.
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▪️How can we make access and outcomes more equitable? Good health & access to health & wellbeing interventions should be made available for all. Unfortunately, health inequalities persist. It’s more important than ever we break the cycle & find ways to produce better health outcomes irrespective of their circumstances.
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▪️Finally, how can we make this a positive experience? Outcomes are important, but so are experiences. Anyone can achieve an outcome over a short-time period. Ensuring someone enjoys the experience to want to continue is something more of us should strive for.
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Would love to know your thoughts 👇🏻 2022-03-30 22:52:03 .. 62 -59% 2 -69%
Good health should be available to all regardless of gender, yet despite this, health inequalities still persist.
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There are differences in health outcomes between men and women, particularly in relation to life expectancy and quality of life. For example, the decline in mental wellbeing was almost twice as big for women compared to men due to reasons such as family circumstances, financial situations, social engagement & health status.
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Over the past two years, women were more likely to shoulder the majority of caring responsibilities. They were also more likely to be impacted by furlough or job losses due to the sectors they work in too.
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Understanding the patterns and differences in health outcomes is important so that we highlight what we know, what we don’t know, and how we might close the gap.

Whilst there are differences in health outcomes between genders, health inequalities between different groups of women are also stark and often related to social and economic factors which drive health outcomes.
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Two examples include the intersection of socioeconomic status and ethnicity.
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Since 2010, women's life expectancy in the UK declined for women in the most deprived areas and has stalled for women across the UK. One reason for this is that health is closely associated with income and employment. For every 10% point increase in employment rate in an area, women’s life expectancy increases by 3.7years on average.
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When gender intersects with ethnicity, health inequalities in relation to years living in good health are also clear. The BMA report cites that White British women on average can expect to live 64.1 years in good health whilst Pakistani women on average spent much fewer years in good health (55.1 years). This could be related to access to healthcare & services, differences in quality of treatment, and more.
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Closing the gap is challenging but not inevitable. Addressing women’s health means taking into consideration the different needs and circumstances of women at different stages of life and considering how power and broader social forces are linked to shaping different outcomes. 2022-03-09 03:03:47 Good health should .. 103 -31% 1 -85%
Let’s look a little bit at the recent Health Foundation report.
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Good health on both an individual and population level carries important physical, mental, social, and economic benefits.
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However, achieving good health at a population level comes with challenges and over recent years it is evident there are significant differences in health outcomes amongst the UK population.
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This report looked at factors like smoking, physical activity, dietary patterns, and harmful alcohol, the key health trends associated with them and policies associated with them.
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The report outlined policies proposed by the Government in England since 2016-2021 to address these factors along with targets for each. 
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The Health Foundation report highlights that not all government policies proposed were implemented and the ones which were have relied on approaches that require a high level of agency such as individual behavioural interventions or information campaigns. An example is the most recent 2022-03-01 01:59:55 Let’s look a little bit.. 101 -33% 2 -69%
Often fitness professionals enter the industry with a passion for fitness.
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This passion for fitness might have bloomed from personal experiences of benefitting from exercise, whether physically, mentally, or socially.
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Whilst I think it’s important to have enthusiasm as a fitness professional, it’s important to reflect on how our own experiences and positioning might impact our assumptions about exercise and the general population.
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For example, exercise is fundamentally central to a fitness professional's career. We likely have a high interest in various forms of exercise, have the flexibility and access to exercise spaces, and tend to have positive experiences with exercise too.
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Some of this can be true for some parts of the population, who may have been active throughout their lives and have largely positive experiences or have found the benefits in later life. But it’s increasingly important to recognise that this isn’t necessarily the reality for other parts of the population. 
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Many people are likely to have other interests and priorities, whilst their experiences might be mixed. Some people might not value or perceive exercise in the same way.
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As a fitness professional, acknowledging the wide range of experiences and realities in relation to exercise can help us communicate and approach exercise (and actively more broadly) in a way that reflects the needs, wants, and circumstances of those who don’t view exercise the way some of us do.
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Finally, some people may never want to engage in exercise such as gym-based training. People may opt for other ways to move that suit their interests and lives. This isn’t a negative thing but should reinforce the notion that there are many different ways to move and that our way might not be the best way for someone. I think more fitness professionals to accept that rather than trying to funnel everyone into one single way to move. 2022-02-23 23:37:53 Often fitness.. 184 +23% 4 -38%
Reframing some ideas about fitness (part✌🏼)
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Challenging common assumptions and perceptions about fitness, and shifting how we think about these perceptions, can be a useful way to improve how we might experience fitness, exercise or activity in general.
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Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, here’s a few assumptions I think are important to shift away from and some ideas we should strive to shift towards 👇🏻
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Shifting away from…
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1️⃣ The idea that there’s a “best way” to be active.
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2️⃣ The notion that more movement is *always* better.
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3️⃣ Using soreness as an indicator of a good workout.
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4️⃣ Thinking that one workout or activity a week isn’t worth doing.
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Shifting towards…
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1️⃣ The idea that there are many different ways to move with benefits to health and well-being.
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2️⃣ Recognising that sometimes rest might be the better option (particularly in relation to high intensity).
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3️⃣ Other indicators such as performance related indicators (eg. Strength, technical, etc) or experience related (eg. Enjoyment, mood, etc) to measure the quality of a workout.
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4️⃣ Doing what you can with the resources available to you. Even a little bit of movement a week can have benefits, so don’t think one workout (even if short) or one form of activity isn’t worth doing.
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We can make fitness a better and more enjoyable experience. Some of that starts with reframing ideas about it.
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Let me know what other ones you’d like to add below 👇🏻 2022-02-21 02:35:59 .. 204 +36% 7 +8%
If you’ve ever felt guilty for how active you were on a given day, this is your reminder that it’s normal for activity levels to change from day to day.

We don’t live in a vacuum and neither do behaviours related to physical activity. Our lives and schedules can change from day to day based on factors like work, family commitments, illness, our physical & mental health or unforeseen circumstances.
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Of course, engaging in all kinds of movement can carry many benefits, but there is a need to recognise that some days we just won’t be as active as others (and that’s OK). 

This doesn’t mean offsetting or compensating on other days, rather approaching activity with a little more compassion and flexibility, rather than rules and rigidity.
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Letting go of the constant need to meet an arbitrary target or the guilt of being more sedentary than you’ve wanted can be a challenge. Nevertheless it’s important that we seek to detach activity levels to our worth or ability.
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Acknowledging that activity levels vary and are fluid due to numerous influences rather than a fixed target that must be met no matter what is the goal. 
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So remember, try not to beat yourself if you’re less active some days than others. 2022-02-16 23:20:26 If you’.. 196 +31% 4 -38%
When it comes to supporting people getting active, we want to reduce as many barriers to activity as possible.
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These barriers might range from physical & psychological to social & environmental. From what we offer and where, to the way we communicate and knowledge we provide, there are many ways in which we can lower barriers to entry and support people with activity.
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Something I want to draw attention to is the use of the term ‘optimal’ and other similar words. ’Optimal’ is a term that I quite often see in relation to activity or more specifically exercise.
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I’ve most commonly seen it used to discredit activities such as spinning or other class-based activities in favour of promoting resistance training often with commercial interests at play.
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There are certainly ways in which we might approach activity in a way that gets us closer to some goals (not all) more effectively, but people are more than their physiology.
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Personal preferences, abilities, and circumstances and all play a role in engagement. As such, terms like ‘optimal’, which can inadvertently devalue other forms of activities, might be creating more barriers and discouraging people from engaging in activities they enjoy, already participate in or have a desire to engage in as they question why they might bother in the first place.
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I think all forms of activity are great and serve a purpose, such as supporting health & wellbeing for the past majority. So, I don’t believe we should be sowing seeds of doubt as to whether a person should or shouldn’t engage in an activity just because it’s not deemed ‘optimal’ or doesn’t fit a person’s biases.
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Remember, all movement counts. 2022-02-13 16:47:41 .. 166 +11% 6 -7%
Movement has a range of physical, mental, and social benefits. Ensuring more people experience these benefits is important in improving health & wellbeing for lots of different people.
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The vast majority of people are interested in being more active within their daily lives but often find it difficult to get started or sustain participation long-term.
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But it doesn't have to be this way. Here are 5 ways we can help people into activity (and keep them there).
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Associate activity with fun, enjoyment, friendship, safety & social belonging. Strengthen communities, ensure people feel part of something, enhance safety and associate activity with fun rather than pain & discomfort.
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Consider the wider social contexts of people's lives & communities. Behaviour doesn't happen in a vacuum. Different social issues across different population groups can create barriers to getting active and need to be considered.
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Understand & address specific needs of different communities. Different groups can often have different needs, wants & values. Finding out what these are and tailoring support is necessary to help reduce barriers and get people active.
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Focus on a sense of achievement & success. Feelings of achievement and success through different forms of activity can enhance a person's self-belief and give reason to continue to be active. Success can come in all forms so find out what it means to different people.
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Provide social & psychological support rather than activity alone. Providing activity alone is likely insufficient to engage with people and keep them engaging with activity. Social and psychological support whilst recognising community contexts can enhance long-term participation and improve experiences.
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Though we cannot personally solve every challenge or barrier in relation to activity, there are ways in which we can more effectively support a diverse range of people. Addressing all of the 5 factors above in relation to different population groups is essential but often overlooked or not consistently applied. 2022-02-12 17:23:40 Movement has a range of p.. 164 +10% 8 +23%
If you’re relatively new to fitness or have found that life events have impacted your relationship with it, reflecting on our experiences and perceptions of fitness can elicit different emotions. Some positive such as joy and excitement, some negative such as guilt and shame.
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Navigating feelings of guilt and shame in relation to fitness can be hard. With that said here are 8 things you shouldn’t feel guilty or ashamed of when it comes to fitness:
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Your current ability. 
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If you don’t enjoy it as much as you feel you should (you don’t have to enjoy an activity to benefit).
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Taking time off when you need it (knowing when to take a step back is just as important).
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The type and intensity of activities you choose to do (all movement counts).
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If you need extra support (fitness professionals are here to help).
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How much time and energy you have available for activities (our lives are all different).
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How frequently you’re active each week (it’ll likely vary from week to week).
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Whether it takes you a little bit longer to progress than others (progress is progress no matter how small).
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What else would you add? 2022-02-09 23:08:03 If you’re rel.. 219 +46% 5 -23%
I think supporting people in solving problems and increasing opportunities to improve health, wellbeing, and quality of life is important.
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However, I also think we can be too quick to offer solutions without first considering the experiences, values, and perceptions of others.
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And in some cases, sometimes people aren’t looking for immediate solutions to their problems, nor inviting us to solve things for them. 
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The world is full of people with diverse experiences, needs, and challenges. Despite this, not every experience is given equal weighting or consideration. This means many people often feel unheard or their experiences diminished.
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Understanding barriers and listening to different narratives & experiences around physical activity, health, and wellbeing is something I perceive as important because it allows us to interrogate commonly held assumptions, offer new perspectives, and provide us with new knowledge.
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Essential to this is listening, a key skill in discovering different perspectives. As practitioners, resisting the need to solve people and placing emphasis on lending an ear is something that is difficult but necessary in helping people feel heard and supported.

As a practitioner (or anybody really) never underestimate the importance of making someone feel heard and their experiences acknowledged. People want to know they’re not just shouting into the void or being forgotten about when it comes to practice and policy decisions. 2022-02-08 00:24:18 I t.. 152 +1% 6 -7%
When it comes to being active, something which I think is important to remember is that people are not a homogenous group. We have different backgrounds, experiences, goals, preferences, social identities and circumstances.
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This means that whilst a statement can be true of the experience and reality of some people, it’s not necessarily true or the experience of someone else. I’ve written a few examples here.
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🔹Increasing activity levels for the vast majority of people can have positive physical, social and mental benefits (which may vary). However, for some parts of the population, decreasing activity levels might be the answer in relation to improving physical, social and mental benefits.
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🔹Tiredness can affect us all to differing degrees. Many people report that engaging in a form of activity no matter how small can be useful and increase their energy levels. However for others, reducing activity and opting for rest might be more useful.
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🔹For many, group settings and a healthy sense of competition can be fun, rewarding and enhance motivation. People might find it useful to help them reduce their barriers and overcome obstacles. However for others, group settings and competition can bring an overwhelming sense of pressure to perform and lead people to avoid activity. Sometimes focussing on doing things alone, or in private and not competing with other people can better support people feel motivated and help them manage their self belief.
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🔹I talk about intensity a lot and whilst I often emphasise the importance of low-intensity activities, this isn’t to negate experiences of high-intensity activity. Both can be fun, enjoyable and rewarding, but this can widely vary between people and groups. It’s not a case of either or, or pitting one against the other, but recognising the pros and cons as well as the contexts they might apply.
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Continued in comments… 2022-02-05 21:53:43 Whe.. 252 +68% 6 -7%
Individual behaviours do play a role in health and in improving health outcomes, however it is increasingly important to recognise that health is more than merely the sum of our behaviours, particularly when behaviours or “lifestyle” get so heavily promoted.
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Health isn’t just related to our behaviour but also related to other factors such as our economic and social conditions. These can include:
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Wealth, income and taxation.
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Housing, neighbourhoods and quality/availability of public services.
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Job quality, availability and standards.
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Social and family support.
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Understanding the influence that these factors play in regards to health is important. This is because supporting improvements in these areas isn’t just reserved to policy makers at the top of government but linked to the strength and resources of communities as well.
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No matter how small, we all have a role to play in improving health outcomes of people and reducing health inequalities via means other than behavioural outcomes, even if you might not feel like you do. 2022-02-04 00:42:22 Individual behavi.. 101 -33% 6 -7%
Not a wordle, just highlighting that in 2022, 1 in 5 people live in poverty in the UK.
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It is a staggering statistic for one of the richest countries in the World (6th in terms of GDP).
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Yet despite the vast wealth in this country, many people are having to choose between heat, or to eat as a consequence policy decisions over the years and inflation too.
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The stark levels of inequality within the UK have been made even more apparent during the pandemic. 
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In terms of health, mortality rates have increased at a much faster rate within the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived areas.
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Greater deteriorations in general health have also been much more apparent with significant impacts on physical and mental health.
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The UK government wants to improve healthy life expectancy by 5 years by 2035, but The Health Foundation estimates that at current rates of progress it would take 75 YEARS to reach this target.
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Changes like these require big solutions, and whilst the levelling up white paper released today put forward some welcome proposals, there were other proposals such as GPs to pilot food prescriptions in a bid to improve health outcomes. Whilst those who would benefit the most from access to GPs are the least likely to have access healthcare.
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I also think such proposals medicalise social issues and fail to focus on the problems which have a significant impact - i.e. poverty.
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We can’t talk about population health without talking about the impact of poverty and the deeply entrenched inequalities that exist.
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Inequalities are not inevitable, they are a political choice and it requires a collective effort to reduce them. 2022-02-02 23:51:42 Not a wordle, just high.. 109 -27% 2 -69%
15 years ago, the UK Government’s foresight report was published which highlighted the complex nature of weight, citing over 100 factors which had some form of influence.
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Many of these factors range from individual such as our biology, to social and environmental factors such as infrastructure and economic policies. Despite the myriad of factors, there is no single dominating factor, instead it should be viewed as a complex multi-level system with factors which interact.
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Discussing the complex nature of weight can sometimes be derided or portrayed as unhelpful, but understanding the role in which multiple factors play, particularly at the social and environmental level, can offer a much more balanced perspective.
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Simplistic explanations of weight might appeal to cognitive biases particularly in relation to diet and physical activity, but they cannot fully capture the complexities of weight and the reality in which we live. Instead these explanations can often lead to framings, practices and policies which are both stigmatising and ineffective at improving health outcomes.
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It’s important that we move beyond simple cause and effect relationships, recognising their limitations and consequences (even if unintended). Moving forward, it’s important we look at the bigger picture otherwise we’ll likely make the same mistakes and do more harm than good in the long run. 2022-02-02 01:41:31 15 years ago, the.. 314 +110% 16 +147%
Starting exercise for the first time whether on your own or part of a group can sometimes feel like a daunting experience.
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Quite often we might feel our thoughts or feelings in relation to exercise are not experienced by anyone else. 
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Though it's important to acknowledge that various factors such as social, environmental and psychological barriers can impact these experiences in different ways, many are more common than we think.
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Here are 4 relatively common experiences in relation to exercise (and why you shouldn’t feel ashamed for experiencing them).
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1️⃣ Feeling worried about fitness levels or ability.
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2️⃣ Concerned about whether you are doing an exercise correctly (or safely).
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3️⃣ Worried about not fitting in classes or group activities - this is often linked to concerns in relation to ability.
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4️⃣ Feeling the pressure to meet the expectancies of others.
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Recognising that these experiences are common is important (though the barriers which might shape these experiences may differ). Connecting and sharing these experiences with others, who particularly feel the same, can be a key tool in reducing guilt and shame whilst increasing a sense of support when it comes to being active.
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Understanding why these experiences might be common, as well as the underlying reasons behind them, can also serve as a way to reduce barriers to activity and improve both perceptions and experiences of exercise.
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What other common experiences would you add? 👇🏻 2022-02-01 01:56:51 .. 144 -4% 8 +23%
Movement does not need to be a means to an end. It does not necessarily have to serve a strict purpose, nor does it need an end destination.
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I am a fan of setting goals whether they are big, medium or small. However I’m also a fan of not questioning whether a form of activity will take me closer to x, y, or z and instead just doing it because someone wants to (though I’m not suggesting these are exclusive).
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Sometimes being active isn’t about working towards something, and it doesn’t always have to be. It can just be about being in the moment, focussing on how it makes you feel and the sensation of being active - whichever way you choose to. 2022-01-31 02:36:21 Movement does not.. 128 -15% 3 -54%
There are many different ways to move and reasons for moving.
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There are also a wide array of different experiences with movement. Some positive, some negative, some indifferent.
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People also come from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances which might shape their interests, goals and values for moving (or not moving).
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Now, some people may share goals, values backgrounds and experiences when it comes to being active, but ultimately there is no universal experience.
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And because there is no universal experience, there isn’t a single solution, mode of activity, delivery method or individual that can meet the needs of the whole population.
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What this highlights is the need for collaboration. Recognising the role different activities and different people can play in supporting people get active. 
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Whether that’s supporting people online or offline. Within a gym/studio or at their home. Incorporating exercise or simply focussing on moving a little more throughout the day.
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Utilising different skills, spaces, personalities and expertise to support people with physical activity is important in both recognising and utilising.
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Great experiences and engagement with movement is a community endeavour and means we all have an important role to play.
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I’d love to know whose approach you love and why (they don’t have to just be fitness).
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Let me know in the comments 👇🏻 2022-01-28 22:30:00 There are m.. 157 +5% 11 +70%
Physical activity levels amongst the population follow a social gradient. This means that people in the lowest socioeconomic groups have the lowest activity levels when compared to the highest socioeconomic groups.
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This isn’t due to things like individual ability, commitment or education. This is often because they have the least access. 
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People with the highest levels of deprivation have the least access to services or appropriate support. 
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They have the least amount of free leisure time. 
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They have the least amount of disposable income for activities. 
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Inequalities in physical activity run deep but are so important to tackle.
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Why?
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Because those with the least access and the lowest activity levels have the most to gain with regards to the health, social and well-being benefits.
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This means not just focussing on those who are already highly active within the population and instead finding ways to enable access through increasing opportunities and reducing barriers for those who have been left behind.
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Physical activity should be for all regardless of their background or circumstances. 2022-01-28 00:03:53 Physical activity level.. 485 +224% 19 +193%
Weight stigma continues to be a prevalent form of discrimination based on someone’s weight or size.
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Weight stigma is broad and not something I can fully capture in one post, though I think it’s important to highlight some of the things it is and isn’t.
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Weight stigma is NOT:
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❌ Experienced equally across the weight spectrum. Those who are at the higher end of the weight spectrum are likely to experience greater stigma at an individual and social level.
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❌ Something that will encourage or support changes in behaviour. In fact weight stigma tends to restrict access & opportunities as well as increase likelihood of avoiding certain behaviours.
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❌ Merely about an individual’s feelings. This assumption is common, but ignores the reality that weight stigma impacts health as well as economic and social factors.
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❌ Experienced equally in relation to different social identities. Experiences of weight stigma can differ when examining how other identities and forms of discrimination intersect. Acknowledging how other forms of discrimination can compound is important in understanding how the effects of weight stigma might differ as well.
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Weight stigma is:
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✅ Something which negatively impacts people physically and psychologically. The negative effects of weight stigma are well documented from a physical, psychological and social perspective.
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✅ Something which occurs at a structural as well as individual level. Weight stigma isn’t merely the attitudes or comments which are projected at people, rather it’s also about how weight stigma impacts policy in areas such as healthcare quality and job security/prospects.
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✅ Something which can be internalised due to social factors. Prejudicial assumptions and attitudes based on someone's weight are common and as a result people can often internalise them, leading people to devalue themselves and adopt behaviours which might negatively impact health.
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✅ More common than we might appreciate. Weight stigma permeates into all parts of life. It is not always observed but inadvertently shapes policies, practices and media each and everyday. 2022-01-26 23:52:38 .. 165 +10% 2 -69%

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