Body image in mid-life women : a comparison between present concerns and those of younger years

This study investigates the body image concerns of mid-life women and compares these to their concerns when they were younger. A qualitative approach was used and in-depth interviews were conducted with five women aged 40 - 50 who were all of normal weight and had no documented history of an eating disorder. Interviews were taped, transcribed and coded. Five themes emerged from the analysis: body image was predominantly equated with weight, the women demonstrated a greater acceptance of self and body in mid-life, there appeared to be greater turmoil about body image in younger years, there was a complex connection between self-esteem and body image, and the women claimed that their body image was not influenced by the media. Excerpts from the interviews were used to support the development of these themes. Most of the women demonstrated a more positive body image in their mid-life years most likely related to higher self-esteem. For all of the women weight was the number one issue with the majority of responses about body focusing on this.