Perception of Female Body Shapes as a Function of Exercise

In an examination of the effect of exercise on women's perceptions of body shapes & their own body image satisfaction, 4 groups of 15 women -- female bodybuilders, rowers, netballers (a British version of basketball), & a sedentary control group -- completed a questionnaire in which they rated 9 detailed anatomical pictures on a series of semantic differential scales. Results support the hypotheses that women who exercise possess more positive perceptions of their own bodies & increased acceptance of muscular body shapes, despite their divergence from cultural ideals. This increased tolerance appeared to be linked to the importance of muscular power in the individual sport. 3 Tables, 1 Figure, 52 References. Adapted from the source document.