the influence of body image on exercise in the elderly
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The Influence of Body Image on Exercise in the Elderly. Bindu Parchuri D.O. Geriatric Fellow NJISA. Questions. Is an elderly patient’s perception of aspects of body image such as attractiveness and functionality related to amount of exercise? - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Influence of Body Image on Exercise in the Elderly
Bindu Parchuri D.O.Geriatric FellowNJISA
Questions
Is an elderly patient’s perception of aspects of body image such as attractiveness and functionality related to amount of exercise?
Do elderly who exercise feel more attractive and functional than those who do not?
Specific Aims
This study looked at whether there is a relationship between elderly patients’ perception of body image and physical activity
Aspects of body image such as attractiveness and functionality may be used as a positive enabler to help the elderly to initiate, continue and/or increase physical activity
Perhaps elderly patients who exercise more feel more attractive and more functional
Background
Obesity has been increasing in all age groups since the early 1960s– Overall, intentional weight loss has been associated with
decreased mortality and morbidity Exercise in later life has a positive effect on health
– Improves cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, endocrine and psychological health
– Associated with decreased mortality and age-related morbidity in older adults
– “35% of individuals aged 65 and older reported engaging in insufficient physical activity and 28% reported being inactive.” (Wallace)
Why don’t the elderly exercise?
Barriers – perceived lack of benefit– lack of motivation– fears of incurring pain– feelings of being too old.
Positive enablers have been shown to be access to facilities and having a companion.
Motivation
Bahram, et al., looked at 120 men and women aged 25 to 65– “active adults had [a] more positive body image than
inactive adults.” Hausenblas, et al., found that exercise improves
body image, regardless of age Tiggemann, et al., also found a positive correlation
between exercise and self esteem – Younger men and women exercised more for attractiveness
and enjoyment than older men and women
Motivation
Heinberg, et al., looked at body image and weight loss maintenance in elderly African Americans with hypertension– Found that subjective body image dissatisfaction
was a positive influence on weight loss Not many studies have focused on the
elderly and their perception of their bodies
Motivation
Understanding factors that relate to exercise may be used in the future to influence the elderly to initiate, continue and/or increase physical activity
Body Image
This study examined different aspects of body image– Do subjects who exercise feel more attractive and
functional than those that do not? – Appearance– Coordination– Overall Global Self Image
Methods
Survey/questionnaire completed prior to lecture
Community dwelling older adults – located through Nutrition Sites in Camden County
Demographics component of Questionnaire PSDQ – Physical Self Description
Questionnaire (Marsh) Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (Godin)
Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire By Godin During a typical 7-Day period (a week), how many times
on the average do you do the following kinds of exercise for more than 15 minutes during your free time (write on each line the appropriate number)– STRENUOUS EXERCISE (HEART BEATS RAPIDLY)– MODERATE EXERCISE (NOT EXHAUSTING)– MILD EXERCISE (MINIMAL EFFORT)
During a typical 7-Day period (a week), in your leisure time, how often do you engage in any regular activity long enough to work up a sweat (heart beats rapidly)?
Participants
Recruited participants from 4 Nutrition Sites in Camden County
Asked about 200 people to participate Obtained 80 completed surveys Participants ranged in age from 70 to 96 and
included both men and women
Results
The participants ranged in age from 70 to 96 with the mean age being 81.3 (SD 6.1)
75% (60) were female 70% (54) were Caucasian; 27.3% (21) were African
American; and 2.6% (2) identified themselves as other.
A majority (55.7%) responded that they did not discuss with their doctor increasing their physical activity.
Results
The subjects used 0 to 13 medications with the mean of 4.8.
80% stated that they were not disabled, 17% of participants considered themselves obese
88% of total participants lived in a single family home or an apartment
14 % lived with a spouse; 36 % lived with a family member; and 49% lived alone
The Three Groups
The three groups were divided according to recommendations based on current CDC guidelines for exercise in adults and on recommendations from Dr. Godin.
The formula used was (Strenuous Ex x 9)+(Moderate Ex x 5)+(Mild Ex x 3)
Minimal – less than 23 Moderate – 24 to 50 Strenuous – over 50
PSDQ Scores by Exercise Group
Group Appearance Coordination GlobalMean St Dev Mean St Dev Mean St Dev
1 (N=45) 4.59 1.13 3.91 1.22 4.5 1.22
2 (N=20) 4.6 1.04 4.47 3.02 4.38 1.50
3 (N=10) 5.08 1.02 4.83 1.32 5.33 1.29
Results
• When scores were examined using Kruskal-Wallis, differences between groups were not significant (Appearance, p =.446; Coordination, p = .279; Global Score, p = .138)
• Among the strenuous exercisers, none considered themselves obese or disabled; 23% of moderate and minimal exercisers considered themselves obese or disabled
Conclusions
• This study explored the relationship between appearance, functionality, body image and total exercise
• There were no statistically significant relationships between amount of exercise and measures of perceived body image
• Of those that did strenuous exercise, 100% did not consider themselves to be disabled or obese
Problems
Not enough participants There were not enough participants who
exercised strenuously Some difficulty having participants complete
entire questionnaire – “Too Long”– Some confusion on how too complete the PSDQ
scale– A few agreed to complete with assistance
References Bahram, A and Shafizadeh. A Comparative and Correlation Study of Body Image in Active and
Inactive Adults and with Body Composition and Somatotype. Journal of Applied Sciences (6): 2456-2460. 2006
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Degerance, J et al barriers to and Benefits of Leisure Time Physical Activity in the Elderly: Differences across cultures. JAGS (51) p 863-868, 2003
Furnham, A, Badmin, N and Sneade, I. Body Image Dissatisfaction: Gender Differences in Eating Attitudes, Self Esteem, and Reasons for Exercise. Journal of Psychology, 136(6) p581-596, 2002
Marsh, H et al. PSDQ Instrument Self Research Center 1999 Marsh, H et al. Structure of Physical Self-Concept: Elite Athletes and Physical Education Students
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2006 June Kennedy, R. et al Obesity in the Elderly: who should we be treating, and why, and how? Cuur Opin
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References Wallace, K et al. Motivation In Later Life Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation Vol 21 p 95-106 Cooper K. et al Health Barriers to Walking for Exercise in Elderly Primary Care. Geriatric Nursing
2001 vol 22 , 5 Belza, B et al. Older Adult Perspectives on Physical Activity and Exercise: Vioces from Multiple
Cultures Preventing Chronic Disease Vol 1 Oct 2004 Tiggemann, M et al. The Effect of Exercise on Body Satisfaction and Self Esteem as a Function of
Gender and Age Sex Roles Vol 43 2000 Tiggemann, M Body image across the adult life span: stability and change Body Image Vol 1 2004 p
29-41 Hausenblas H. et al Exercise and body image: A meta-analysis
Psychology & Health, 1476-8321, Volume 21, Issue 1, 2006, Pages 33 – 47 Godin, G et al Assessment of Leisure Time Exercise Behavior by Self-Report: A concurrent Validity
Study Canadian Journal of Public Health Vol 77 p 359-362 Peart, N et al. The Physical Self Description Questionnaire: furthering research linking physical
self concept, physical activity and physical education https://www.aare.edu.au/05pap/pea05307.pdf Clark, D. Identifying Psychological, Physiological and Environmental Barriers and Facilitators to
Exercise among Older Low Income Adults Journal of Clinical Geropsuchology Vol 5 1999 CDC exercise guidelines, www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines, accessed August 2009.