If you’ve ever felt self-conscious surrounded by lean fitness fanatics flexing their toned muscles while you sweat your guts out in the gym - you’re not alone.
In fact, a company in Canada has gone to extreme measures to avoid this embarrassment by setting up a plus-size gym, which BANS slim people becoming members.
‘Body Exchange’ located in Vancouver has created what they call a “safe haven” for overweight people to exercise in a friendlier work-out environment, without the fear of being stared at or criticised by fit gym bunnies.
Skinny people need not apply for membership, as Body Exchange only accepts applications from people who have at least 50lbs to lose, or those who struggle with emotional eating or food addiction.
Founder and certified personal trainer Louise Green says she wants to eliminate the main source of intimidation (the super-fit skinnies) so that plus-sized people feel more at ease.
Green told The Province: “The presence of that person in our program will bring down morale,' she said. 'I used to walk into fitness classes where nobody would even say hi. This has got to be fun or it's not going to work.”
“Many of our clients have not had successful fitness pasts so I can see the anxiety before we get started and I can see the relief and happiness after we finish.”
But could you imagine the outcry if a gym was to ban fat people? Tell us what you think…
If you think this sounds crazy - take a look at how the world keeps fit...