The significance of body size estimation in eating disorders: Its relationship with clinical and psychological variables

Although body image problems are a major prognostic factor in the course of eating disorders, its treatment has received little attention in the research literature. We present two psychophysiologically controlled cases of intensive exposure treatment with conflicting outcomes. Pre-post treatment assessments included measurements of body size estimation, body related avoidant attitudes and body dissatisfaction. In case 1, although dissatisfaction and avoidant attitudes decreased, body size overestimation remained basically unchanged. Case 2 did not improve. Psychophysiological recordings showed a covert avoidance of treatment stimuli. We discuss the pros and the cons of the treatment, and the implications for the use of exposure therapy in body image disorders.

Download Full-text

The influence of bmi and psychological variables in the body size estimation among adult women

Psico ◽

10.15448/1980-8623.2016.3.22086 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 179

Author(s):

Gabriela Salim Xavier ◽

Sebastião Sousa Almeida

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

The Body ◽

Adult Women ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Psychological Variables ◽

Body Size Estimation

O objetivo desse estudo foi quantificar a estimação da imagem corporal para avaliar as variáveis que a influenciam – Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC), insatisfação com a imagem corporal e sintomas depressivos em mulheres eutróficas (n = 40) e com excesso de peso (n = 40). A avaliação da imagem corporal e dos sintomas depressivos foi conduzida por meio da Escala de Figuras de Silhuetas (EFS) e pelo Inventário de Depressão de Beck (BDI), em suas versões brasileiras, respectivamente. No grupo eutrófico, a insatisfação e a pontuação do BDI explicaram 55% e 12% da variação da estimação, respectivamente. No grupo com excesso de peso, a insatisfação com a imagem corporal foi responsável por 14% da variação da estimação da imagem corporal, enquanto o IMC, individualmente, por somente 9%. Quando avaliados em conjunto, esse percentual aumenta para 42%, indicando que juntos – IMC e insatisfação – agregam maior valor explicativo para essa variável. A insatisfação foi considerada a variável mais saliente, influenciando em maiores proporções os valores de estimação obtidos, particularmente entre as mulheres eutróficas.

Download Full-text

Clinical Correlates of Body-Size Distortion

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1993.76.3c.1311 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 76 (3_suppl) ◽

pp. 1311-1319 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Andrés J. Pumariega ◽

Carl R. Gustavson ◽

Joan C. Gustavson ◽

Sandra A. Black ◽

Andrew R. Gustavson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Body Size ◽

Eating Attitudes ◽

Clinical Group ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Size Distortion ◽

Eating Disordered ◽

Linear Relationships ◽

Computer Based ◽

Body Size Estimation

Body-size distortion has been considered a central symptom of eating disorders. We studied 35 female eating-disordered patients and 85 controls using a computer-based body-size estimation technique. We have found almost identical linear relationships between body-size distortion and weight:height ratios in both groups. In the clinical group, distortion scores were not correlated with scores on the Eating Attitudes Test or Beck Depression Inventory but were negatively correlated with body dissatisfaction as measured on the Eating Disorder Inventory. These results raise further questions about the role of body-size distortion both as a diagnostic criterion and as a complicating phenomenon in eating disorders.

Download Full-text

Body-Size Estimation in Eating Disorders Using Video Distortion on a Lif e-Size Screen

Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics ◽

10.1159/000289114 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 66 (2) ◽

pp. 87-91 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Michel Probst ◽

Walter Vandereycken ◽

Herman van Coppenolle

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Body Size ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Body Size Estimation

Download Full-text

Comparison of body size estimation in adolescents with different types of eating disorders

European Eating Disorders Review ◽

10.1002/erv.956 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 468-475 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Nora Schneider ◽

Katja Frieler ◽

Ernst Pfeiffer ◽

Ulrike Lehmkuhl ◽

Harriet Salbach-Andrae

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Body Size ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Different Types ◽

Body Size Estimation

Download Full-text

Comparison of bulimic and non-bulimic anorexia nervosa patients during treatment

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291700000696 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 891-898 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Elke D. Eckert ◽

Katherine A. Halmi ◽

Peggy Marchi ◽

Jacob Cohen

Keyword(s):

Anorexia Nervosa ◽

Body Size ◽

Weight Gain ◽

Treatment Response ◽

Acute Phase ◽

Hospital Treatment ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Psychological Variables ◽

Severity Of Depression ◽

Body Size Estimation

SynopsisBulimic and non-bulimic anorexics were compared on psychological variables during a hospital treatment study. Although before treatment bulimic anorexics displayed more overall psychopathology than non-bulimics, many of the differences disappeared with treatment. There was no difference in severity of depression or body size estimation in these groups both before and with treatment. There was no difference in treatment response as measured by rate of weight gain. More expression of discomfort by bulimic anorexics during the acute phase of illness may in part account for some described differences in these two groups.

Download Full-text