Body composition and physical self-concept in older women

We sought to determine the performance and anthropometric correlates of phy sical self-concept and self-esteem and to observe whether long-term resista nce training would after these variables in postmenopausal women. Forty-fou r nonsmoking, community-dwelling, Caucasian women aged 50-75 years particip ated in the study. Half of the subjects participated in a 9-month regimen o f weight-bearing exercises performed 3 times per week which emphasized lowe r body muscle strength and power development. At baseline, total body fat w as negatively associated with physical self-concept and perception of physi cal appearance but not with self-esteem. Perception of physical appearance improved in both exercisers and controls after the 9-month trial but was mo st noticeable in exercisers who had tow self-esteem at baseline. The only p redictor of improvement in perception of physical appearance was a decrease in Lower body fat mass. Minimal or nonsignificant change in psychological measures associated with the training may be due to high initial values.