Shifting the way we talk about ageing bodies is an important part of helping people age well, according to Bolton Clarke Research Institute Fellow, Dr Sarah Bonell.
Dr Bonell says that despite the myth that body image concerns are confined to younger people, poor body image and related health impacts remained a real issue for many older Australians.
Research in the United States shows around 80% of women over 50 reported that body image affected their self-perception.
“Having a positive body image is important because it can protect us from anxiety, depression, eating disorders and reduced social engagement, and this remains true well into later life,” she says.
“But although body image is often framed as a young person’s issue, concerns about appearance persist across the lifespan and are reported by many adults aged 60+.
“Ageing often brings physical changes and body image concerns can shift or take different forms as we get older. For example, changes to weight distribution and skin texture are common as we age, and illness or reduced physical capacity can also shift the way our bodies look.
“Unfortunately, accepting body changes that naturally occur with age is made harder by a culture that idealises youth, underrepresents older bodies and treats ageing as something to be hidden – when ageing is framed as a negative thing it becomes harder to feel at home in an ageing body.”
Dr Bonell says body image referred to all the thoughts and feelings people have about their appearance – and importantly, positive body image about much more than the way you look.
“It can simply mean feeling comfortable in your body, treating it with respect and showing it care – even on days when you don’t love your appearance.”
Fostering positive ideas about older bodies, and tackling ageism, can begin with some simple actions.
“One powerful way to improve body image is by shifting language away from centring on appearance and toward respect, function and compassion.
“For example, asking questions like what positive things has my body done for me today?
“At its core, positive body image is about doing the best we can to accept and appreciate our bodies as they change with age, while remembering that how we look has never defined our worth.”
