Boomer Women Exercise Less to Lose Weight

A University of Michigan study of baby-boomer women found that women who exercise to look better exercise 40 percent less than other women.

Michelle Segar, a University of Michigan psychology researcher; Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, a former University of Michigan psychology professor; and Donna Spruijt-Metz of the Institute of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Los Angeles say women who exercise to lose weight exercise the least.

The study, published in the journal Sex Roles, found that women in their 40s appeared to have a greater chance of maintaining exercise habits when the exercise is for a non-body shape reason, such as reducing stress, increasing a sense of well-being, or for the intrinsic enjoyment of the activity itself for social reasons, such as wanting to do something with a friend.

Women who exercise to lose weight or change their body shape may select physical activities based on how many calories they burn, rather than on how much they will like doing that activity — a recipe for eventually quitting, according to the study.

We’re all so busy, Segar said. Who has time to fit in an activity you don’t really enjoy?