The relationship between body image and obligatory exercise behavior among physically active women of various ages /

• Main Author: Freitag-Honsberger, Susan.
• Other Authors: Neil, Graham (advisor)
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 2001
• Subjects: Body image in women.; Compulsive behavior.; Exercise for women.
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=31106

The purpose of this study was to assess body-image attitudes and the extent of obligatory exercise among physically active women, and to examine interrelationships among these variables, and age differences. The sample included one hundred and eighty-three female exercise participants, aged 18 to 71 years. The Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire was used to assess subjective body-image attitudes. The Obligatory Exercise Questionnaire was used to assess extent of obligatory exercise behavior. It was found that the majority of physically active women are generally satisfied with most aspects of their body images. However, 82% were concerned with their appearance, 30.6% were preoccupied with their weight, and 41% perceived themselves as being overweight. Appearance evaluation was positively related to satisfaction with weight, which was the strongest predictor of global appearance evaluation. Older women (56 to 71 years) were significantly more concerned with their health than were younger women (18 to 25 years). The extent of obligatory exercise behavior among physically active women was very small, and was not related to age. Obligatory exercise scores were predicted by fitness and health orientation, and overweight preoccupation, and inversely predicted by age and health evaluation.