Body Image Disturbances in Anorexia Nervosa and Obesity

Abstract

Measures were made of body image and personality features in patients with anorexia nervosa and obesity. It was hypothesized that obese and anorexic patients would display similar body image disturbances characterized by relative overestimation of body size in comparison with control subjects. Body image was measured by both a distorting photograph technique (a general measure) and a visual size estimation apparatus (for specific body regions). Personality features were assessed by the Eysenck Personality Inventory and a modified version of Rotter's Locus of Control Scale. Results indicated that both obese (N=16) and anorexic (N=18) subjects significantly differed from three control groups (P less than 0.01) in body size estimation on a general measure of body image. A measure of specific body regions did not differentiate between groups. For anorexic and obese patients, body size estimates were significantly correlated with personality features.

Perceptual Experiences in Anorexia Nervosa and Obesity*

“…Moreover while anorexic and obese subjects have been shown to overestimate their sizes, this tendency has been observed in normal (21,35,94), pregnant (94), thin and neurotic women (35), and schizophrenics (29). Although these observations do not negate the diagnostic and prognostic utility of this measurement technique, they raise important questions about the precise meaning of body image findings derived from studies using the caliper device.…”

“…Fries (29) and Goldberg et al (40) confirmed a self-overestimation tendency in anorexic subjects when compared to controls. On the other hand, Crisp and Kalucy (21) and Garner et al (35) observed selfoverestimation of body regions in controls as well as eating disorder groups. Similarly, Slade and Russell (95) have reported the caliper device was able to differentiate obese from normals but this was in contrast with studies using a similar measure (16,21,35).…”

“…On the other hand, Crisp and Kalucy (21) and Garner et al (35) observed selfoverestimation of body regions in controls as well as eating disorder groups. Similarly, Slade and Russell (95) have reported the caliper device was able to differentiate obese from normals but this was in contrast with studies using a similar measure (16,21,35). Moreover, when Button et al (II) repeated Slade and Russell's earlier study with carefully age matched controls, no differ" ences were found between the two groups in body size estimation.…”

“…On the other hand, in adult onset obese subjects the mirror information increased the accuracy of self-estimation. Employing the same distorting photograph method, Gamer et al (35) found an overestimation tendency in approximately one-half of the juvenile onset obese (N =16) and anorexia nervosa (N= 18) subjects tested. This was in contrast to a relative underestimation tendency in three control groups.…”

A program for assessing body image disturbance using adjustable partial image distortion

“…include techniques such as the distorting mirror (Traub & Orbach, 1964), projection of photographs with distorting lenses (Garner, Garfinkel, & Bonato, 1987;Garner, Garfinkel, Stancer, & Moldofsky, 1976;Glucksman & Hirsch, 1969), the video-distortion technique (Allebeck, Hallberg, & Spamark, 1976;Askevold, 1975;Fernández-Aranda, Dahme, & Meermann, 1999;Freeman, Thomas, Solyom, & Hunter, 1984;Meermann & Vandereycken, 1988;Probst, Van Coppenolle, Vandereycken, & Goris, 1992;Smeets, Ingleby, Hoek, & Panhuysen, 1999), the life-size screen distortion method (Gardner & Bokenkamp, 1996;Probst, Van Coppenolle, Vandereycken, Kampman, & Goris, 1991;Probst, Vandereycken, & Van Coppenolle, 1997;Probst, Vandereycken, Van Coppenolle, & Vanderlinden, 1995), and the silhouette method (Bell, Kirkpatrick, & Rinn, 1986;Furnham & Alibhai, 1983).…”