Physical activity and body image of women: literature review

Abstract

Background: This study represents a review of literature on the relationship between recreational physical activity and the body image. Material/Methods: This research encompasses 39 papers published between 2008 and 2015 that were available in the Academic Search Complete database. Results: The results of comparative, prospective, and experimental research are ambiguous. These data suggest both a positive relationship between the body image and physical activity, i.e. a more positive body image among more active people and an improvement in the body image as a result of regular exercise, and a negative relationship, in particular, a more negative body image in persons engaging in “aesthetic” sports. Conclusions: Apparently, this is determined by the type of physical activity, i.e. recreational vs. sport. In the case of the latter, it is determined by the sport discipline chosen by respondents.

Influence of fitness techniques integration on the development of physical qualities and morpho-functional state of adult females

“…Values are multifaceted socio-psychological phenomena which combine the goal and motivation orientation of a person's activity. To establish the values of the adult females who wanted to take up fitness, we asked them to make a choice based on 10 questions and to rank the importance of 3 factors [10], which determined their need for doing physical and recreational exercises (Figure 1).…”