Among issues important to women's health are their wellness profiles includ
ing indicators such as activity level, weight status, breakfast and snackin
g patterns, health status perceptions, and alcohol and tobacco use. This is
particularly true for midlife women with a long-term illness. The purpose
of this study is to identify the wellness profile of a group of midIife wom
en with multiple sclerosis (MS), and to compare their lifestyle indicators
with national health statistics. Overall, the women in the study group indi
cated a lower perception of their health status and were less active. Howev
er, the women in this study group demonstrated healthier body weights, used
less tobacco and alcohol, had better breakfast patterns, and comparable sn
acking patterns, indicating that they may be more attuned to their bodies t
han women without chronic illnesses. Identifying women's wellness profiles
can assist practitioners in addressing the issues of health for women manag
ing a long-term illness.