Unbound MEDLINE

Body image, shape, and volumetric assessments using 3D whole body laser scanning and 2D digital photography in females with a diagnosed eating disorder: preliminary novel findings.

Abstract

We piloted three-dimensional (3D) body scanning in eating disorder (ED) patients. Assessments of 22 ED patients (including nine anorexia nervosa (AN) patients, 12 bulimia nervosa (BN) patients, and one patient with eating disorder not otherwise specified) and 22 matched controls are presented. Volunteers underwent visual screening, two-dimensional (2D) digital photography to assess perception and dissatisfaction (via computerized image distortion), and adjunctive 3D full-body scanning. Patients and controls perceived themselves as bigger than their true shape (except in the chest region for controls and anorexia patients). All participants wished to be smaller across all body regions. Patients had poorer veridical perception and greater dissatisfaction than controls. Perception was generally poorer and dissatisfaction greater in bulimia compared with anorexia patients. 3D-volume:2D-area relationships showed that anorexia cases had least tissue on the torso and most on the arms and legs relative to frontal area. The engagement of patients with the scanning process suggests a validation study is viable. This would enable mental constructs of body image to be aligned with segmental volume of body areas, overcoming limitations, and errors associated with 2D instruments restricted to frontal (coronal) shapes. These novel data could inform the design of clinical trials in adjunctive treatments for eating disorders.

Links

  • Aggregator Full Text

    • Authors

    Stewart AD, Klein S, Young J, Simpson S, Lee AJ, Harrild K, Crockett P, Benson PJ

    Institution

    Centre for Obesity Research and Epidemiology, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK. a.d.stewart@rgu.ac.uk

    Source

    British journal of psychology (London, England : 1953) 103:2 2012 May pg 183-202

    MeSH

    Adult
    Anorexia Nervosa
    Anthropometry
    Body Image
    Body Size
    Bulimia Nervosa
    Feasibility Studies
    Female
    Humans
    Imaging, Three-Dimensional
    Lasers
    Photography
    Pilot Projects
    Young Adult

    Pub Type(s)

    Evaluation Studies
    Journal Article
    Multicenter Study
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

    Language

    eng

    PubMed ID

    22506746