Older people with body insecurities

A growing number of older British people – including those in their 70s and 80s – are suffering from low self-esteem and anxieties relating to body image, a new study has found.

Interviewed for the Observer Magazine this weekend, Professor Nichola Rumsey, co-director of the University of the West of England’s centre for appearance research, suggests “as adults, 90% of British women feel body-image anxiety”.

She said: “It doesn’t wane – many women in their 80s are still anxious about the way their bodies look, which can even affect their treatment in hospital when their health choices are influenced by aesthetics.”

While popular opinion suggests body image-related anxiety is generally a young person’s problem, studies in Bristol counterbalance this with evidence that these anxieties do not dissipate as the years pass, but merely evolve into different types of concerns about appearance and how we are seen by others.

“We have conducted a study of about 1,200 people, which confirms appearance-related anxieties persist well into later adulthood,” Professor Rumsey said.

“At an age where most healthcare professionals focus on controlling pain and body functionality, many patients feel the way they look is as much of a concern, but isn’t a legitimate topic of conversation.

“It can cause substantial distress to look in the mirror and see an ageing body, especially if they have very visible conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or an obvious skin condition. GPs are not trained to deal with the psychological impact of these anxieties, which can have a significant influence on overall wellbeing.”

According to Professor Rumsey, it is a myth that older people do not care what they look like.

“The ‘normal’ signs of ageing can prove very depressing and many people find it hard to see themselves in a positive light when they see a wrinkled face and a sagging body looking back in the mirror. We are now at a point where there is a social stigma around the effects of the natural ageing process, and this can lead to very low self-esteem and the classic signs of body dysmorphic disorder,” he said.

Professor Janet Ludwig of the University of Adelaide told DPS News as ageing was “universal”; Australia obviously faced similar issues with its ageing population.

“Change is confronting. Age is confronting. It is not surprising if older Australians take on a similar mentality to the British. There needs to be more awareness of the ageing body and we need to embrace it, not fear it,” she said.

Are you finding you have a negative body image outlook as you age? Share your insecurities by commenting in the box below.