Weighty Issues for the ThirtySomething Era

Published: 31 August 2007

Women feel pressure to be perfect

It's no longer just women in their teens and twenties who battle with low self esteem over weight and body image issues. A new survey released today shows that 65% of 30-39 year old women claim they feel the pressure to stay slim and youthful. The research carried out by the intelligent eating plan, Vitality Eating System, found the source of the pressures include celebrity mums, such as Victoria Beckham and Liz Hurley, who effortlessly slip back into their skinny jeans.

• 62% of mums admitted they pressurised themselves to get back in shape post-birth
• Half of these resorted to crash or faddy diets
• Their top celebrity role mums are Madonna (20%) closely followed by Catherine Zeta Jones (19%) and Kate Winslett (19%)
• 1/3 of mum's are too tired to cook a healthy meal for themselves so resort to convenience foods
• Nearly half of all 30-39 year old mums (43%) are on a permanent diet
• Over a quarter of thirty something women admit to thinking about their weight 'several times a day'
• The most desired anti-ageing procedures were liposuction on the stomach and thighs (30%), followed by a breast job (19%)

Professor Geoffrey Beattie, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester comments: "For their happiness and fulfilment, women need to start identifying with positive images of real women, and reject the superthin celebrity mums as role models."

Clearly the pressure to have it all is taking its toll on today's generation of juggling thirty somethings. 41% claim their frantic lifestyles are the number one trigger for comfort eating. So much for the added confidence which the thirties are reputed to bring. When the thirty something women were asked if they are now more comfortable with their body/appearance compared totheir twenties, over 60% of the sample said 'no'.