Women Happiest Naked In Their 30s, Survey Reveals

Young women in their teens and 20s may have to wait years until they’re finally comfortable with their bodies, new research suggests.

A survey by Sanctuary Spa, a British skin and body care firm, found that women don’t feel confident about being in their own skin until around age 34 – but why does it take so long?

The survey

The study included 1,230 women who were surveyed about body confidence. About 40 percent of women said they look at their naked bodies in the mirror every day, while 25 percent do so weekly. Another 16 percent say they have never seen their own naked reflection at all.

In general, participants said they were happiest with their naked bodies at age 34. And while women in their 30s may be more wise about media messages concerning unrealistic beauty standards, research suggests that the average woman still has about 13 negative thoughts about her body every day.

The shame game

A recent survey from Glamour magazine found that 61 percent of readers were ashamed of their hips, 64 percent were embarrassed by their stomachs, and 72 percent were unhappy with their thighs. Women of all shapes and sizes reported some “sadness” over their bodies, Samantha Olsen at Medical Daily reports.

“It’s no surprise given that women are inundated with messages of body image,” Olsen wrote.”Fifty percent of commercials designed for women mention physical attractiveness The average adolescent, ages 12 to 19, is exposed to over 5,000 attractiveness advertisements each year.”

As for the magic number of 34, celebrity beautician Nichola Joss says that women this age tend to be more comfortable in their own skin.

“I have female clients of all ages and those in their early to mid-thirties typically have great body confidence,” he said. “Many 34-year-olds I know have experienced either a loving relationship or close personal friendship and these bring confidence, both inside and out.”

Source: Medical Daily