Wellness profile of midlife women with a chronic illness

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.