From body perception to physical activity

Strongly endorsed by public health guidelines and policies, physical activity is experienced and practiced in a wide variety of ways. This article examines the bodily practices of individuals living with obesity, focusing on how social representations of large bodies affect these practices. It also explores the role of gender in body perception and in engagement with physical activity, whether adapted or not. The study’s methodology combines participant observation with formal and informal interviews and is situated within a professional context linked to the health care system. While the stigmatization of large bodies appears to be internalized by the participants, it manifests in diverse ways depending on the individual, constraining them to varying degrees and at different stages of their lives.