Exercise Is In! Implicit Exercise and Sedentary-Lifestyle Bias Held by In-Groups1

This research examined implicit exercise-related bias between exercising groups. Participants (N = 53) completed an Implicit Association Test with neutrally valenced exerciser or couch potato exemplars. Participants who explicitly identified as exercisers had greater positive bias toward exercisers and against couch potatoes than did participants who identified as nonexercisers. Similarly, participants who reported greater exercise had significantly greater positive bias toward exercisers than did participants who reported less exercise. Our results expand on existing research on anti-fat and exercise-related stereotypes by providing evidence of implicit biases for exercisers and against couch potatoes among those who are already active.