Retired Men, Retired Bodies

Although a growing body of literature has emerged around young men’s body image, little literature exists on older men’s body image. This paper focuses on in-depth, qualitative data obtained during a focus group from six older, retired men (58 to 85 years) involved in formal physical activity sessions, living in the Adelaide metropolitan area. This research draws attention to ways in which older, retired men perceive their bodies and whether this bears on their masculine identity and quality of life. This paper also identifies important health promotion strategies for health practitioners working with older men.