ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- Each day, thousands of American women hit the gym to run, walk and kick-box their way to finer physiques. Many women are motivated by the cosmetic benefits of working out regularly, but a recent study reveals women with insecurities are more likely to stick to a workout routine if they focus on the health benefits of exercise.

Social physique anxiety is a psychological disorder in which women feel as if everyone around them is constantly critiquing their appearance. When researchers from Ohio State University in Columbus studied 100 19-year-old college women suffering from this condition, they found women who attended step aerobics classes led by instructors who stressed the health benefits of working out enjoyed exercising more than those who attended classes led by an instructor who stressed the aesthetic benefits of working out.

“Individuals who run group fitness classess need to be aware that the comments they make during classes are intended to be motivational,” Brian Focht, Ph.D., study co-autor and assistant professor of health behavior at The Ohio State University in Columbus, told Ivanhoe. “In women who had some meaningful level of body image concerns, using more appearance-related comments, which are very common to use in these kinds of settings, actually made them feel worse.”

According to Dr. Focht, body-conscious women who attended health-oriented classes not only enjoyed these classes more, they also returned more frequently than their peers who attended appearance-oriented step classes.

“Really, the guiding thing I would say to women is, select a lot of different exercise classes to see which one fits you best,” Dr. Focht said. “We’re starting to see very solidly that if individuals enjoy something, they’re more likely to come back and do it again.”

SOURCE: Ivanhoe interview with Brian Focht, Ph.D.; Psychology of Sports and Exercise, published online Aug. 10, 2007