Body Image Assessment Software: Psychometric data

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyze the psychometric characteristics of the Body Image Assessment Software (BIAS), an innovative interactive computer program developed to assess body image disturbances. The program was tested on 252 psychology students at the University of Barcelona and 51 patients with an eating disorder (ED). The subjects filled in the Eating Attitudes Test-26, the Body Shape Questionnaire, the body dissatisfaction scale of the Eating Disorders Inventory-2, and the Body Image Assessment-Revised (a test of silhouettes). Results showed good validity and very high reliability. Furthermore, BIAS was able to discriminate between people who were at risk of an ED and those who were not, as well as between people with and without a history of an ED. Those at risk of having an ED and those with a current ED showed more body image distortion (overestimation of body size) and higher levels of body image dissatisfaction.

Body Image in Eating Disorders: The Influence of Exposure to Virtual-Reality Environments

“…The Body Image Assessment Software (BIAS) 91,92 is a computer program developed to assess body-image disturbances. The program displays on the computer screen both side and frontal views of a scaled female human figure, which is proportional to the participant's objective body measures.…”

“…The discrepancy between their objective and perceived body size provides information about the level of perceptual distortion, and the discrepancy between their perceived and ideal body size provides information on the level of body-image dissatisfaction. Both scales show high internal consistency 92 (Cronbach's a ¼ 0.917 for the body-image distortion scale and 0.943 for the body-dissatisfaction assessment scale).…”

Body image, shape, and volumetric assessments using 3D whole body laser scanning and 2D digital photography in females with a diagnosed eating disorder: Preliminary novel findings

“…Recognizing the importance of adolescent body shape, where maturational changes alter morphology, Aleong, Dutchesne, and Paus (2007) used a principal components approach to generate simultaneous morphing of the body in front and size views, according to the variability of their data sample. Ferrer‐García and Gutiérrez‐Maldonado (2008) also developed front and side view images which had an automated scaling function and segmented images in six regions in the frontal plane and five in the sagittal plane. This was similar to the earlier approach of Benson, Emery, Cohen‐Tovée, and Tovée (1999), which involved a highly developed interface with interactive slider controls.…”

Body Image Distortion and Three Types of Weight Loss Behaviors Among Nonoverweight Girls in the United States

“…Despite recent innovations in computerized measurement of BID [12], the recognition of BID as a characteristic of anorexia and other eating disorders [13], and the association between exposure to ''thin ideal'' media content and BID among female college athletes [14], the role of BID in adolescent weight loss behaviors remains understudied. Furthermore, very little is known about the prevalence of BID at the population level among any age group.…”