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Revealer"
Body Image Assessment in Eating Disorder Patients
E.M.
1
Anche se le correlazioni fra videoproiezione speculare,1 a 1 e monitor LCD sono
molto alte
STUDI EFFETTUATI CON IL BODY IMAGE REVEALER
A pilot study was designed to develop and test a new digital computer-based
assessment method aiming at evaluating the body image distortions in eating
disordered patients.
The instrument’s algorythm is able to recognize different body parts and can
simulate over- and underweight by means of the subject’s own picture taken
previously with a digital camera.
67 female patients (mean age 24 +\- 7) from both the Eating Disorder Unit of
the University Psychiatric Center KU Leuven Campus Kortenberg (Belgium)
and Villa Garda’s Clinic (Italy) and 42 female controls (mean age 23 +\- 4)
were tested with this new technique together with EDI2, SCL90 and BAT.
Significant differences were found between the eating disorder sample and
the control group in the cognitive (how do you think you really look like) and
affective (how do you feel you are) tasks with the digital technique.
Remarkably, the results showed also significant differences between Italian
and Belgian patients in the meta-cognitive task.
In support of the convergent validity of this new technique, measures of
Cognitive, Optative and Affective Tasks, were positively correlated with their
equivalents from the questionnaries subministered.
Body image disturbances have been a challenge for both researchers and
therapists working with eating disorders in the last thirty years.
A extreme preoccupation with the body in combination with a general fear to
gain weight is often cited as a causal and/or maintaining factor in eating
disorders.
For too long, research on body perception in eating disorders has been
focusing on accuracy of body size estimation in a rather simplistic way.
There is a strong need for a new and valid instrument in body image
assessment methods.
The present study reports on the development of a body image assessment
instrument combining a sophisticated subject's image simulation technique
and simplicity of administration.
Furthermore, we report on a pilot study, testing a new digital system in
hospitalized eating disorder patients of the University Center St-Jozef
(Belgium) and Villa Garda's Clinic (Italy). Women with clinical eating disorders
(n = 66) and normal controls (n = 34) were asked to estimate their actual
(cognitive task), subjective (affective task), perceived by others (meta-
cognitive task) and ideal (optative task) body size while using the computer-
based simulation technique on a video screen.
In the cognitive and meta-cognitive tasks significant differences between
patient group and control group were found.
It is argued that this new method is able to assess the perception of body size
and body dissatisfaction.
Articolo presentato a Barcellona (Spagna) all' AED Congress
Academy for Eating Disorders International Congress
in Young Females
Body dissatisfaction in young females has been shown to be a causal risk
factor for dieting, negative body image, and increases in eating disorder
symptoms. A poor body image has also been related to negative affect and low
levels of self-esteem in females.
Research has shown that women’s ideal body images are influenced by
exposure to diet messages and thin media images. However, studies that
explored this phenomenon compared groups of healthy females exposed vs.
non-exposed to thin media images, exclusively by means of questionnaires or
silhouettes ratings. Such methods have low test-retest reliability.
Our experiment studied the effects of exposure to physique salient (PS) vs.
physique non-salient (PNS) media images and the moderating influence of
perceived body discrepancies. We used a digital assessment method called
Body Image Revealer (BIR), consisting in a digital simulation technique capable
of manipulating a picture of the participant, previously taken by a digital camera,
to simulate a thin/fat body.
Participants included 53 female students (mean age 22 +/- 2 yrs.) recruited
over a six-month period. They were asked to fill EAT26, EDI2, EDES, and BAT
questionnaires in order to exclude women with a negative body image and/or an
eating disorder. Women’s height and weight were measured to calculate
Quetelet’s Body Mass Index [BMI; the ratio of weight (kg) to height (m) squared]
and to exclude women with a BMI value outside the 18,5-24,5 range. Three (3)
participants were excluded because of high scores in the aforementioned
questionnaires and two (2) because of low/high BMI values.
To define a baseline, participants’ perceived bodies (PB) and ideal bodies
(IB) were assessed using the BIR. The retest was managed after 5 minutes,
consisting of a second BIR session following the presentation of PS vs. PNS
media images taken from magazines that girls read. Images were chosen
according to a poll subministered all over the nation before the experiment. PS
images consisted in advertisement pictures of swimsuits, clothes and underwear
with the presence of thin models. PNS pictures consisted in advertisement
pictures of a car, cans of dog food and a wristwatch.
Higher PB scores were associated with the exposure to PS images. This
effect was positively correlated with the Body Mass Index. The analysis of IB
scores indicated that participants increased their desire for thinner bodies after
exposure to PS images, especially swimsuits and underwear. This effect was
positively correlated with age.
Results suggest that media images portraying thin models elicit negative
perceived discrepancies and a desire for thinness greater than images that are
considered neutral or physique non-salient. This can be detrimental for women’s
body images and could be prodromic for an eating disorder in young females.
The aim of this pilot study is to explore if observers focus on specific body
parts when they evaluate and adjust previously distorted images of their
body.
METHOD: Frontal pictures of 9 female informed volunteers (mean age
(mean=18,11 ± 1,45 years)were taken at a standard 2.5 m distance. Subjects’
weight (mean=53,63 ± 3,30 Kg) and height (mean=162 ± 4,53 cm) were
determined. Only subjects with a normal Body Mass Index (i.e. between 18,5
and 24,9; mean=20,46 ± 1,48 Kg/m2) were included. Validated questionnaires
for the assessment of eating and body image disturbances were also
administered: subjects with scores at questionnaires indicating a possible
eating disorder were excluded. Each participant received 18 trials divided in 4
tasks using the Body Image Revealer: they were presented with a distorted (in
different trials either under- and over-weight simulation) picture of their body
and were requested to adjust (i.e. enlarge or reduce) the image until it fits
with: a) how they see they are (cognitive task); b) how they feel they are
(affective task); c) how they would like to appear (optative task); d) how they
think others see them (metacognitive task). Eye movements were recorded
and fixation time for different body parts (thigh, abdomen, thorax, arms, head)
of the shown picture was measured.