Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine differences between real somatotypes and cog-nitive somatotypes by considering the degree of satisfaction of body parts. The subjects were 250 middle-aged women from 40-54. Data was collected through anthropometry and surveys. Data was analyzed by correlation analysis anova duncan multiple range test factor analysis regression analysis crosstabulation analysis. The results were as follows: 1. Middle-aged women tend to prefer having a slim truck long and slim limbs and their hope was to be tall in height and light in weight slim at the waist and abdomen. 2. The consciousness about thickness was in-tensified more than that about length of the body. 3. The slim somatotype group were more satisfied with their body than those of obese somatotype group. 4. The average R hrer Index of middle-aged women is 1.55 and the slim somatotype group is 1.33 and the standard somatotype group is 1.53 obese somatotype group is 1.82. Age has much influence on the body change of middle-aged women. Especially 45-49 years old the slim body type declined heavily. 5. When analyzing the elements of body sat-isfaction the biggest elements are in the sub-ject of girth related to the expansion of trunk. Therefore trunk girth has more influence on body satisfaction than height and limbs. So the obession of trunk girth is the most important factor in body satisfaction. 6. Most middle-aged women although not judged to be obese by measurements believed themselves to be obese.

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