Study
finds satisfaction in Body Function, Body
Appearance differs in Older Men and Women
Newswise, August 3, 2011 — When it comes to
satisfaction with body function and body
appearance, older men and women have
different opinions, although physical
activity does improve satisfaction in both
sexes, according to new study by a Baylor
University researcher.
Researchers found that as men and women age,
there is a shift in body satisfaction away
from appearance and towards body
functionality, a finding that was documented
more consistently in women. Additionally,
when comparing concerns across genders,
satisfaction with body functionality was
more important for men than women. Another
finding showed by increasing body
satisfaction in both appearance and
function, depressive symptoms of older
adults were reduced.
The research found programs that are
successful at increasing participation in
physical activity among older adults not
only decrease the risk of a multitude of
chronic diseases, but also increase one’s
satisfaction with their body function and
their satisfaction with body appearance.
When researchers studied the men and women
as a combined group, greater improvements in
satisfaction with body function were
associated with being younger, better
baseline health ratings, greater reductions
in body mass index (BMI) and more physical
activity. Greater improvements in
satisfaction with body appearance were
associated with obtaining a college degree,
more reductions in BMI and depressive
symptoms, and increases in physical
activity.
The study also showed that white older
adults have lower overall body satisfaction
and place a stronger relationship between
physical activity and body satisfaction than
African-American older adults. However,
researchers found that improvements with
satisfaction with body function and body
appearance were more likely among white
participants.
“It was interesting that even though body
appearance satisfaction seems to be more
important for younger populations,
especially women, it is still important and
relevant among older adults,” said study
author Dr. Renee Umstattd, assistant
professor of health education at Baylor.
“In one way this is a little disheartening
to think that women and men are still
wrestling with being satisfied with the
appearance of their bodies, even after a
life full of various points of meaning. From
another angle, the study provides support to
promote increased physical activity for
older adults and provide effective
programming to increase physical activity
rates of older adults. Increases in physical
activity improve satisfaction in both body
appearance and function.”
To conduct the study, researchers surveyed
nearly 1,900 participants with an average
age of 69 who were in a physical activity
program for older adults. They then used
simultaneous regression analyses to examine
predictors of change in body function
satisfaction and body appearance
satisfaction.
The study appears online in the journal
Annals of Behavioral Medicine and is the
first study to incorporate a geographically
and ethnically diverse, community-based
sample of older men and women engaged in a
physical activity intervention to examine
the relationships of change in body
satisfaction with changes in physical
activity, BMI and depression.
About Baylor University
Baylor University is a private Christian
university and a nationally ranked research
institution, classified as such with “high
research activity” by the Carnegie
Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
The university provides a vibrant campus
community for approximately 15,000 students
by blending interdisciplinary research with
an international reputation for educational
excellence and a faculty commitment to
teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845
by the Republic of Texas through the efforts
of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest
continually operating university in Texas.
Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students
from all 50 states and more than 80
countries to study a broad range of degrees
among its 11 nationally recognized academic
divisions.
