title: Women's body satisfaction at midlife and lifetime body size: a prospective study.
abstract: The relationship between past body size and current body dissatisfaction among 933 middle-aged women from a prospective birth cohort study was examined. Women provided self-report data on weight esteem at age 54. Height and weight data were collected at ages 7, 11, 15, 20, 26, 36, 43, and 54. Data on reproductive variables were also collected prospectively. Hierarchical linear modeling and multiple regression analyses were used. Women who were dissatisfied at midlife were heavier at age 7 and showed a more rapid increase in body mass index with age. A late menarche, being postmenopausal, and having started hormone replacement therapy before menopause were associated with less dissatisfaction. Attention to these factors across the life span is necessary to understand body dissatisfaction in women at midlife.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. lmclaren@ucalgary.ca
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McLaren
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kuh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001824:Body Constitution; D001828:Body Image; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept