Feel younger than the person in the mirror? You're not alone

Survey polls Canucks on public perceptions of aging as national model search launches

TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2013 /CNW/ - Whether it's distorted self-image or an unwillingness to let go of our youth, many Canadian adults agree that there is a disconnect in how they look versus how they feel inside. Based on a recent survey commissioned by Merz Pharma Canada, 80 per cent of respondents admitted to feeling younger than they looked.ⁱ

"We all have moments in time where we look and feel our best," said Carol Kasik ⁱⁱ, an anti-aging advocate and brand ambassador for Merz Aesthetics. "While aging is a natural part of the process, there are a number of ways to approach this progression, as part of an overall skin health regime, to keep us looking as young as we might feel; to give us that quiet confidence."

In support of the "My Life, My Journey" Merz Aesthetics Model Search*, the survey asked Canadians for their thoughts on the aging process and how it impacts behaviour, if at all.

Additional key findings included:ⁱ

• 28 per cent of respondents say that aging makes them feel less secure about their appearance
• The biggest concerns regarding appearance overall are weight gain (68 per cent), wrinkles (61 per cent) and hair loss (40 per cent)
• Women cited wrinkles as the biggest concern (68 per cent) compared to men (53 per cent)
• Men cited hair loss as the biggest concern (49 per cent) compared to women (30 per cent)
• 59 per cent try to regain a feeling of youth by purchasing a new wardrobe
• Women dominated in this category, leading the pack at 71 per cent, compared to men at 43 per cent
• 25 per cent of respondents said they are open to trying cosmetic enhancements to combat aging
• 90 per cent of respondents cited wanting to look good for themselves as the number one reason they would want to pursue cosmetic enhancements
• Six per cent would to impress a partner and four per cent for friends and family

"Aging affects everyone differently and it's important to gain a better understanding of how this might impact someone's self-esteem or quality of life," said Dr. Vince Bertucci, Toronto-based Dermatologist. "Too often, women and men alike settle for their outward appearance and don't understand how to go about changing it. We want to support these people as they embrace aging and become more confident in their own skin."

*About the "My Life, My Journey" Merz Aesthetics Model Search
Launched November 15, 2013 and running until January 15, 2014, the "My Life, My Journey" Merz Aesthetics Model Search is open to all legal Canadian residents between 19 and 65 years of age. The contest invites participants to log onto the "My Life, My Journey" website to share their personal stories on image and self-esteem, and why they are interested in being an ambassador for Merz's Aesthetics portfolio.

Three winners (one grand prize winner and two runners-up) will be chosen from the submitted applicants. The grand prize winner will receive a prize package that includes a trip to New York City for a professional photo shoot and additional prizes valued at $10,000.00 inclusive, as well as a complimentary treatment with Merz Aesthetics products. The two runners-up will receive prize packages consisting of complimentary treatments with Merz Aesthetics products, valued at $4,500.00.

For more information and details about submissions for the "My Life, My Journey" Merz Aesthetics Model Search, visit www.mylifemyjourney.ca

About the Survey
Commissioned by Merz Pharma Canada, the survey was completed by 1,000 adult Canadians over the age of 35 and was conducted between September 16 and September 18, 2013 using Leger Marketing's online panel.

About Merz Pharma Canada

Merz Pharma Canada Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Merz Pharma Group, was established in 2009 to expand Merz franchises in the Canadian marketplace. Our ambition is to become a recognized leader in the treatment of movement disorders, and in aesthetics and dermatology. Our future is promising, and we are committed to advancing new therapeutic options and improving patients' lives. For more than 100 years, the development of Merz products has been based on our commitment to providing innovative medical approaches that earn the trust of patients, physicians and partners worldwide. Globally, the companies of Merz Pharma Group are focused on medications for treating neurological and psychiatric illnesses, and they have assumed a leading role in the field of Alzheimer's disease research. Founded in 1908, Merz Pharma Group is a privately owned company headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany.

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ⁱ Merz Aesthetics Leger Survey September 2013.
ⁱⁱ Carol Kasik has been a Merz  Aesthetics model since 2011.

SOURCE: Merz Pharma Canada Ltd.

Lauren Wasley
energi PR
[email protected]
416-425-9143 x19