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A woman's dissatisfaction with her body can stem from several variables
NewsRx.com - September 18, 2003

A woman's dissatisfaction with her body can stem from several variables.

According to a study from Canada, "the relationship between past body size and current body dissatisfaction among 933 middle-aged women from a prospective birth cohort study was examined. Women provided self-report data on weight esteem at age 54. Height and weight data were collected at ages 7, 11, 15, 20, 26, 36, 43, and 54."

"Data on reproductive variables were also collected prospectively. Hierarchical linear modeling and multiple regression analyses were used. Women who were dissatisfied at midlife were heavier at age 7 and showed a more rapid increase in body mass index with age," said L. McLaren and colleagues, University of Calgary, Department of Community Health Science.

"A late menarche, being postmenopausal, and having started hormone replacement therapy before menopause were associated with less dissatisfaction. Attention to these factors across the life span is necessary to understand body dissatisfaction in women at midlife," investigators suggested.

McLaren and colleagues published their study in Health Psychology (Women's body satisfaction at midlife and lifetime body size: A prospective study. Health Psychol, 2003;22(4):370-377).

For more information, contact L. Mclaren, University of Calgary, Department of Community Health Science, G230 Health Science Bldg, 3330 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.

Publisher contact information for the journal Health Psychology is: American Psychological Association, 750 First St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242, USA.

The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of Obesity, Mental Health, and Women's Health. This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports.

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®2001 American Psychological Association
Last updated: 09/22/2003 - 05:42 PM