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Obesity and body image: an evaluation of sensory and non-sensory components

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Rick M. Gardner ,
Renee Martinez  and
Yvonne Sandoval
Rick M. Gardner*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Southern Colorado, USA
Renee Martinez
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Southern Colorado, USA
Yvonne Sandoval
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Southern Colorado, USA
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Rick M. Gardner, Department of Psychology, University of Southern Colorado, Pueblo, Colorado 81001, USA.
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Synopsis

Body image in 38 obese and normal weight subjects was measured using a video TV monitor. Tasks included a continuous task where subjects manipulated the size of their body image on a TV screen, and a discrete task, where they judged the accuracy of their TV image which was presented as either too heavy or too thin. Subjects viewed their images in both regular street clothes and with minimal clothing.

Results from the continuous task revealed that obese subjects overestimated body size. All subjects were more accurate on trials in which the initial image was adjusted in the heavier direction.

On the discrete task, a signal detection analysis revealed sensory sensitivity differences between obese and normal weight subjects. Obese subjects were better at detecting distortion caused by a too thin image, but were inferior in detecting a too heavy distortion. No significant differences were obtained in response criteria or between clothing conditions.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 17 , Issue 4 , November 1987 , pp. 927 - 932
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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