Fitness DVDs May Injure Your Psychological Well-Being

Workouts provided by fitness DVDs may seem like an easy and convenient way to stay active without even leaving your own home. However, new research conducted by officials at Oregon State University found that the "hyper-sexualized and unrealistic body images" produced through the workouts can actually reduce their effectiveness and even result in psychological harm.

Researchers surprisingly discovered that many of the fitness instructors had little credentials in their field--making them question the validity of the routines, their safety and the overall effectiveness of the workouts used in the DVDs. 

"These findings raise concerns about the value of exercise DVDs in helping people develop and commit to a workout program," Dr. Brad Cardinal, a professor of kinesiology at Oregon State University, who is a national expert on the benefits of physical activity, in a news release. "There are a lot of exaggerated claims through the imagery and language of 'do this and you'll look like me.' "

During the study, researchers gathered 10 commercially available, contemporary, single-instructor exercise DVDs that analyzed them for instructor and model characteristics, motivational content of primary instruction and emergent relationship patterns.

The study findings revealed that only 26.9 percent of the statements were motivational. However, one in seven were negative, including statements like "say hello to your sexy six-pack," "you should be dying right now," and "you better be sweating."

According to the study authors, these kind of messages don't focus on health and fitness, but more on social comparisons and strategies that may result in harmful effects because they promote competition and can possibly lead to injury.

"You're inviting into your home these images and messages that could make you feel bad about yourself, and ultimately hinder your efforts to improve your health," Cardinal said. "If the experience is not positive, the likelihood the person is going to continue with an exercise program diminishes."

The study is published in the Sociology of Sport Journal.

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