Mumbod? A comparison of body image and dietary restraint among women with younger, older, and no children

Abstract

Pregnancy and the postpartum period are times of significant body, and body image changes for women. Adult women (N = 885) aged 21 to 47 years old completed an online questionnaire. Mothers of young children (0–5 years) had significantly lower levels of body shame, self-objectification, and dietary restraint than women without children, and women with school-aged (6–10 years) children had significantly lower self objectification than women without children, once we controlled for age. BMI predicted body shame more than motherhood status. This research has implications for the development of appropriate body image interventions for adult women.