Fear of Fitness Clubs: Study Says Intimidation Is Real

photo by i like

I remember the first time I stepped foot in a gym. I was a freshman in college whose fitness know-how started and stopped with turning on the treadmill. After my run, I slowly walked around the expansive space—you know, as if I were focused on my workout when in fact I was trying to peek at weight machine instructions—then decided I’d make a fool of myself tomorrow. I wasn’t about to learn the ins and outs of the shoulder press with about a hundred other college students expertly bench pressing and biceps curling a couple feet away.

It took me a month to finally try the weight machines, and I only gave ’em a go because I had free reign of the entire gym. (I was in college, and those kids don’t are like vampires before noon.) Now I’m not afraid to test out new equipment, mainly because I know which muscles most are supposed to work.

I was reminded of my first gym experience when I read a new study, published in the January/February 2010 issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior that found that overweight people let negative thoughts about the gym control their exercise habits more often than positive thoughts.

When participants answered questions about exercise, researchers learned that more overweight people believe exercise improves appearance and self-image than do normal-weight people. But the overweight participants were more often embarrassed and intimidated about exercising than their normal-weight counterparts. Though the overweight group understood fitness leads to health, the authors say negative thoughts were more powerful than positive ones when it came to gym attendance.

The study result is understandable seeing as most gyms (minus Curves for women I think, though I’ve never worked out there) peddle the appearance of ultimate fitness. Posters around the gym flaunt chiseled triceps and rock-hard abs. Trainers pump iron next to average Joes—another reminder of how their body can look with enough work. For someone who’s never used a weight machine or an overweight person who’s already self-conscious about her body, the atmosphere can be intimidating.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with personal trainers practicing what they preach. The idea of going to the gym is to get in shape, after all. Still, the über-fit feel can turn off newbies. Maybe health clubs should help overweight people feel more comfortable. I think my latest gym does a good job of this: Every member is required to join a personal trainer for a gym walk-through within the first week of signing a contract. The tour gives members a feel for the gym’s layout and teaches them how to use complex fitness equipment. (I’m pretty sure there’s also the goal of nabbing a new personal trainee, but I guess that’s expected.)

What are your thoughts? Have you ever been intimidated by a health club or fitness class? How’d you get over it?