Does resistance training improve body image satisfaction among the elderly? A cross-sectional study

• Published in: Clinics (São Paulo, Brazil) Vol. 73; p. e290
• Main Authors: Rica, Roberta Luksevicius, Gama, Eliane Florencio, Machado, Alexandre Fernandes, Alonso, Angélica Castilho, Evangelista, Alexandre L., Figueira-Junior, Aylton, Zanetti, Marcelo, Brandão, Regina, Miranda, Maria Luiza de Jesus, Alves, José Vilaça, Bergamin, Marco, Bocalini, Danilo Sales
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Elsevier España, S.L.U 01.01.2018; Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina / USP; Elsevier España
• Subjects: Aging; Body Image; MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL; Older Women; Original; Resistance Training; Resistance Training; Body Image; Aging; Older Women
• ISSN: 1807-5932; 1980-5322; 1980-5322
• DOI: 10.6061/clinics/2018/e290

This study aims to evaluate whether body image satisfaction improves with practice in resistance training in elderly women. Forty women were selected and randomly divided into an untrained group (UN) group and a group trained in resistance exercises (RT). To evaluate body image satisfaction, the silhouette matching task was used. No differences were found between current (5.45±0.24) and ideal (4.7±0.12) silhouettes in the RT group. However, the UN group showed a significant difference (p<0.01) between current (10.4±0.43) and ideal (5.6±0.26) silhouettes. The current silhouette was significantly different between the UN and RT groups (p<0.002). However, the ideal silhouette value did not differ between them. Body satisfaction was present in 90% of the participants in the RT group, and the difference was 15% less than that in the UN group (x2 test, p<0.001). Resistance training in elderly women can promote satisfaction with their body image.