Assessment of body size estimation: a review

Abstract

The overestimation of body size has been suggested to play an important role in the maintenance of anorexia nervosa. It has been assessed in a variety of ways and the aim of this review is to present a comprehensive and critical appraisal of body size estimation in eating disorders. The review starts by classifying the different methods used to assess the estimation of body size, and considers factors that have been shown to influence it. The signal detection approach to body size estimation is examined and the impact of body size estimation on treatment outcome is reviewed. It is concluded that the significance of body size estimation research in the understanding and treatment of eating disorders can only be determined by combining ecologically valid assessment methods with state-of-the-art interventions.

On Academics Misperceptions of Overweight: Associations of Weight Misperception with Health-Related Quality of Life among Normal-Weight College Students

“…A robust relationship exists between overweight misperception and psychological health; 5,[15][16][17][18] therefore, we chose to analyze differences in college students with normal self-reported BMI and inflated or accurate body weight perception. A total of 137 students had a normal self-reported BMI and described their weight as either "about the right weight," "slightly overweight," or "very overweight."…”

Body image dissatisfaction among food‐related degree students

“…repeated testing, state of hunger, lighting in the room, the type of clothing worn by the subject (Cash, Pruzinsky, 2004), certain points in menstrual cycle (Farrell et al, 2005) and mood (Taylor & Cooper, 1992). None of these factors were controlled in this present study.…”

The Concept of Body Image Disturbance in Anorexia Nervosa: An Empirical Inquiry Utilizing Patients' Subjective Experiences

“…The perceptual component refers to the phenomenon that AN patients tend to overestimate their body size and shape compared to healthy controls (e.g. "body size estimation") (Cash & Deagle, 1997;Farrell, Lee, & Shafran, 2005;Skrzypek, Wehmeier, & Remschmidt, 2001;Smeets, Klugkist, Rooden, Anema, & Postma, 2009). The cognitive-evaluative component refers to patients' negative thoughts and feelings towards their body (e.g.…”