An investigation of the relationship between body image and exercise motive in a sample of regular fitness center visitors

Previous research suggests that training for appearance-related reasons might influence body image negatively. This study investigated the relationship between exercise motives, exercise motivation and body image. Specifically, the exercise motives investigated were appearance- and strength-focused, and exercise motivation was defined and explained by self-determination theory. It was examined if focus on strength as opposed to appearance can predict an improved body image controlling for the exercise motivation in regular fitness center visitors. An online questionnaire was distributed and resulted in participation of primarily 109 students from the Netherlands and Germany. In the current study, the results showed an effect in the opposite direction rejecting the hypothesis. Placing more focus on appearance as compared to strength predicted a better body image when controlled for the exercise motivation. Additional analysis on the relationship between appearance-focus, exercise motivation and body image revealed that appearance can positively but also negatively influence body image. Additional analysis on the relationship between strength-focus, exercise motivation and body image revealed that placing focus on strength is of benefit for predicting a better body image if participants were extrinsically motivated but made no difference if they were intrinsically motivated. The results can be of help for developing potential interventions for people with body image concerns by introducing the concept of putting the focus on strength exercises and thus the functionality of the body to potentially increase body image when exercise motivation is extrinsic (i.e., low).