Fitness Trainer's Physical Attractiveness, Clients' Motivations and Exercise Intention

Established from the critical review of past literatures, impact of the physical attractiveness of a fitness trainer on client’s exercise intention was postulated to be mediated by trainer’s perceived expertise, trustworthiness, likeability and health. The findings of this study revealed that only a trainer’s perceived expertise and likeability significantly mediated the relationship between the physical attractiveness of a fitness trainer and client’s exercise intention. Above and beyond, this study discovered that identification to a physically attractive fitness trainer was influential in convincing clients who were motivated by appearance and weight management goals to sign-up into an exercise programme offered, due to their tendency to socially compare and identify to a physically attractive trainer as their role model. Besides, it was found that the client’s gender significantly moderated the direct relationships between the two exercise motives and client’s exercise intention in which a cross-over interaction was identified. This cross-sectional study examined effects of fitness trainer’s physical attractiveness and its attached stereotype on clients’ exercise intention. Besides, the impact of certain exercise motives on intention to exercise was also investigated. Questionnaires were distributed among randomly selected gym-goers from ten fitness centres within three districts of Melaka: Central Melaka, Alor Gajah and Jasin. Although this study focused on client’s intention rather than their actual action as well as on first impression basis instead of exercise-adherence, it is still a prominent input for future research in investigating impact of the physical attractiveness in marketing of fitness programmes and promotion of active lifestyle