Research from the Journal of Women & Ageing showed body image/satisfaction among women over 50 is quite low. These findings were based on a sample of 1,789 women who rated body-size satisfaction on a figure rating scale. Shockingly, only 12.2% of participants were satisfied with their bodies.
Women who are satisfied with their bodies show to have a lower body mass index and were found to have fewer eating disorder traits, behaviour surrounding dieting, and weight and appearance dissatisfaction. Research also noted that women who are satisfied with their bodies tend to exercise more compared to those who are not satisfied. Furthermore, they used shape and weight of their bodies as components of self-evaluation.
Leanne and Fitness Tips Say:
What are some tactics to help women over the age of Fifty improve their self-satisfaction?
- Write down Self-Declarations. In other words, personal positive affirmations. This involves writing down who you believe you truly are, or, who you would like to believe you are. It isn’t important whether you believe what you are writing at the time. The point of this is to overwrite old and negative self-beliefs.
- Understand that photos and images that we see online and in magazines are not a true representation of the subject we are comparing ourselves with. The air brushing and work behind the scenes that goes into producing such images is immense. We need to be realistic and view these images accordingly.
- Ask yourself reflective and daunting questions. For example: At the end of your life, what do you want to be known for? What kind of person were you? How much time was wasted worrying about losing weight, your belly bulge or the wrinkles forming on your face? Reflect on how much time you spend on negative thought patterns instead of spending your time on much more valuable things.
- Make yourself accountable. When negative thoughts creep into your mind and bad self-talk rears its ugly head, force yourself to get down and do twenty push-ups or sit-ups. You will soon start turning those thoughts into positive affirmations about your body image and you will experience a great change in your mind-set.
If you are practicing a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet and exercise, then it is time to start loving the body you have been given. Look after it and be proud of bounding into later life with the wonderful body that you live in!
Maintaining a healthy weight is imperative to good health, particularly as we age. Read more about the impact of obesity in middle age here.
