Body Satisfaction and Associated Predictors Among Baby Boomer Women in Rural and Urban Manitoba
Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
25 August 2022
Abstract
Purpose: This study examines body satisfaction, weight attitudes, dieting behaviours, and aging concerns of baby boomer women (BBW; born 1946–1965) from rural and urban Manitoba.
Methods: Primary data collection occurred November 2015, and 1083 participants completed the Body Image and Food Choice Survey. Four strata of BBW were represented to examine differences between older and younger BBW and location of residence. Multinomial logistic regression models were fit to determine predictors of weight and appearance satisfaction. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were considered significant at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: Fifty-three percent of participants were satisfied with their appearance, whereas only 34% were satisfied with their weight. Ninety-one percent desired to lose weight (29.9 ± 29.3 lbs). Aging anxiety was evident for 46% of participants and associated with appearance satisfaction (χ2 = 27.46, df = 4, p < 0.001). Body work and dieting behaviours were used to mitigate body dissatisfaction, and media influence was associated with both appearance (χ2 = 76.17, df = 6, p < 0.001) and weight satisfaction (χ2 = 67.90, df = 6, p < 0.001). Desired weight change, appearance stress, appearance importance, and self-rated health predicted both weight and appearance satisfaction.
Conclusions: There is a need for greater awareness of aging women’s body image concerns and the need for age-appropriate tools/resources to help dietitians support women achieve a healthy body image.
Résumé
Objectif. Cette étude examine la satisfaction corporelle, l’attitude à l’égard du poids, les comportements relatifs aux régimes amaigrissants et les préoccupations propres au vieillissement de bébé-boumeuses (nées entre 1946 et 1965) de régions rurales et urbaines du Manitoba.
Méthodes. Les données primaires ont été recueillies en novembre 2015, et 1 083 participantes ont répondu au sondage sur l’image corporelle et les choix alimentaires. Quatre strates de bébé-boumeuses ont été représentées afin d’examiner les différences entre les bébé-boumeuses plus âgées et plus jeunes, et selon le lieu de résidence. Des modèles de régression logistique multinomiale ont été ajustés afin de déterminer les prédicteurs de satisfaction à l’égard du poids et de l’apparence. Les rapports de cotes et les intervalles de confiance à 95 % ont été considérés comme significatifs à p ≤ 0,05.
Résultats. Cinquante-trois pour cent des participantes étaient satisfaites de leur apparence, tandis que 34 % seulement étaient satisfaites de leur poids. Quatre-vingt-onze pour cent souhaitaient perdre du poids (29,9 ± 29,3 lb). L’anxiété liée au vieillissement était manifeste chez 46 % des participantes et associée à la satisfaction à l’égard de l’apparence (χ2 = 27,46, dl = 4, p < 0,001). L’activité physique et les régimes amaigrissants étaient utilisés pour atténuer l’insatisfaction corporelle, et l’influence des médias était associée à la fois à la satisfaction à l’égard de l’apparence (χ2 = 76,17, dl = 6, p < 0,001) et du poids (χ2 = 67,90, dl = 6, p < 0,001). Le changement de poids souhaité, le stress lié à l’apparence, l’importance de l’apparence et l’état de santé autoévalué permettaient de prédire la satisfaction relative au poids et à l’apparence.
Conclusions. Il est nécessaire de mieux connaître les préoccupations des femmes vieillissantes à l’égard de l’image corporelle et de disposer d’outils et de ressources adaptés à l’âge pour permettre aux diététistes d’aider les femmes à avoir une image corporelle saine.
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Published In
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Volume 83 • Number 4 • December 2022
Pages: 160 - 167
Editor: Naomi Cahill
History
Received: 12 March 2021
Accepted: 1 March 2022
Version of record online: 25 August 2022
Copyright
© 2022.
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NikkiHawrylyshenMSc, RD and ChristinaLengyelPhD, RD. 2022. Body Satisfaction and Associated Predictors Among Baby Boomer Women in Rural and Urban Manitoba. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research.
83(4): 160-167. https://doi.org/10.3148/cjdpr-2022-013
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