Body-shape perceptions of elderly women exercisers and nonexercisers

Perceptions of current and ideal body shape for 49 elderly women exercisers (66 to 88 yr.) and 29 nonexercisers were measured using a nine-figure sihouette scale. Exercisers showed greater difference between current and ideal shape than nonexercisers, but no association was found for oge 1:urther research needs to consider additional socioeconomic factors and be vabdated from a broader population

Perceptions of current and ideal body shape of athletes and nonathletes

This study was done to examine the relationship between sex and perception of body image among athletes and nonathletes. A total of 211 men and women athletes and nonathletes completed a questionnaire which asked them to identify from a nine-figure body-silhouette scale their current image and the image that they thought was most ideal. t tests showed no significant differences for men based upon athletic participation and that both athletes and nonathleces were satisfied with their body image. However, when comparing current image and ideal image, significant differences were found for women athletes and nonathletes. These data support previous research documenting women's dissatisfaction with their body images and show athletic participation is not associated with this perception