Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
Published on: May 31, 2021
Relations of strength training to body image among a sample of female university students
Christine Ahmed1, Wanda Hilton, Keenan Pituch
1Division of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069, USA. cahmed@usd.edu
Abstract:
College women enrolled in a strength training class were evaluated before and after the class using a combination of physical fitness measures, including weight, percentage of body fat, body circumference, and strength measures. Forty-nine subjects participated in strength training, twice a week for a total of 12 weeks. At the end of the class, participants were asked to respond to 9 open-ended questions dealing with perceptions of body image. Physical results of the study showed a mean weight gain of 1 lb, an average increase in body fat of 0.9%, and a 5-11 lb improvement in maximal lifting ability. In addition, most subjects reported that they felt healthier and more fit and had an improved body image and a better attitude about their physical selves after strength training. In this study, exercise using strength training improved strength and body image in women.
Related Concept Videos
Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience
Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Factors Influencing Attraction II: Physical Attraction
Relationship Formation
Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison

