Design and Product Development

Functional Assessment of Exercise Apparel for Overweight and Obese Adults

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore fit problems, satisfaction, and fit preference for each category of exercise apparel and the need for support in each body site for overweight and obese (OWOB) population. Male and female adults in the U.S. with BMIs of 25 or higher participated in this study through Amazon Mechanical Turk. The results of this study revealed that OWOB adults have difficulties with current exercise apparel because of fit problems and lowest fit satisfaction with abdomen across gender. Further, with respect to fit preference for each type of exercise apparel, most male and female respondents (over 70%) preferred semi-fitted to fitted jackets, sweatshirts, hoodies, T-shirts, sweaters, and shorts, while many of them preferred to have loose-fitting pants and leggings. More support needed for specific body sites (e.g., stomach and back for male; bust and stomach for women) in their ideal exercise apparel was identified.

Keywords: Fit problems, Fit satisfaction, Fit preference, Overweight and obese, Exercise apparel

How to Cite:

Shin, E., (2022) “Functional Assessment of Exercise Apparel for Overweight and Obese Adults”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 79(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.13733