Exercise motives and positive body image in physically active college women and men: Exploring an expanded acceptance model of intuitive eating

• We explored the role of exercise motives in the context of the acceptance model of intuitive eating.
• Body acceptance by others was linked with higher functional exercise motives.
• Functional exercise motives positively, and appearance motives inversely, contributed to body appreciation.
• Results suggest the importance of encouraging functional reasons for exercise.

The acceptance model of intuitive eating posits that body acceptance by others facilitates body appreciation and internal body orientation, which contribute to intuitive eating. Two domains of exercise motives (functional and appearance) may also be linked to these variables, and thus were integrated into the model. The model fit the data well for 406 physically active U.S. college students, although some pathways were stronger for women. Body acceptance by others directly contributed to higher functional exercise motives and indirectly contributed to lower appearance exercise motives through higher internal body orientation. Functional exercise motives positively, and appearance exercise motives inversely, contributed to body appreciation. Whereas body appreciation positively, and appearance exercise motives inversely, contributed to intuitive eating for women, only the latter association was evident for men. To benefit positive body image and intuitive eating, efforts should encourage body acceptance by others and emphasize functional and de-emphasize appearance exercise motives.