How body image changes as you get older
How comfortable are adults with body image?
Body image insecurities are not exclusive to youth. Our relationships with our bodies and how we view ourselves can change drastically over time.
A lot of people have misconceptions about their body size and shape, which can cause dissatisfaction, but what really happens to sway our opinion in our later years?
Ageing
With ageing comes the wrinkles, the infamous middle-age spread and loss of muscle mass and there’s really not much that can be done. Unfortunately, the western world in particular, associates beauty with being young and thin.
People under the age of 25 are still producing collagen! Of course, their skin is going to be smoother and softer. It’s also easier to keep the weight off when you’re younger, so beauty in older people is highly underrepresented. There’s no surprise that older men and women feel insecure because they lack the representation of beauty that does exist and is suited to them.
Transition points later in life
There are many transition points in the older years, including retirement and changes in family dynamics. These transitions can cause changes to the routine, roles and responsibilities of people in later life. They can cause undue stress, which can lead to more wrinkles, weight loss or weight gain and mental health issues. It can cause you to look back on your past self that was wrinkle-free and become insecure.
What to do
Do your best to love yourself and remember you are far from alone. Body image issues are so common amongst all age groups. The media is constantly throwing models in our faces as the “ideal” beauty standard. Well, they are wrong! Beauty cannot be defined by one thing; it is unique to each person.
Celebrate the fact that you’ve gotten so far in life, and wear your wrinkles like a badge of honour because you’ve earned them! Nothing is more beautiful than being happy and healthy.
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