While physical activity offers mental and physical health benefits for most people, working out has become so closely associated with weight loss that an exercise gift can come across as thinly veiled body-shaming. The risks for childrenThe risks are even higher when giving fitness gifts to children and teenagers. For parents who feel a sense of responsibility to encourage an inactive child to get moving, it’s tempting to think a fitness gift could be the perfect catalyst. While gift-givers might assume they’re offering motivation to be more active, surprising someone with a fitness gift can interfere with the ability to engage in exercise, according to Schilling. Giving such a loaded gift “might actually prolong someone from engaging in health behaviors because they feel hurt by it,” Schilling said.

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Persons: Oona Hanson, “, Leslie Schilling, ” Schilling, ”, Carolyn Comas, Schilling, ” Comas, “ It’s, Comas, it’s, athleisure, wearables, they’re, I’ve Organizations: CNN, National Alliance for Locations: Las Vegas, Los Angeles