Body Image in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa

Abstract

Disturbances in body image are often regarded as a cardinal feature of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The various approaches to assessing body-image disturbances in anorexics and bulimics are detailed, including body-part size estimation techniques, distorting image methods, silhouettes, and attitudinal measures. The marked inconsistency of findings across studies comparing anorexics or bulimics with some "control" group on body-image variables is discussed in terms of variations in measurement techniques, subject characteristics, and experimental setting. The reliability and validity of existing measures are discussed. Finally, conclusions and recommendations for future research are provided, in addition to a brief presentation of therapeutic approaches to treating body-image disturbances.