Measurement of Body Image in Eating Disorders
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrollment
- 135
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Body image distortion score on the Body App Tool
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study aims to compare a new electronic instrument called (here referred to as the 'Body App') with traditional paper and pencil rating scales for assessing how individuals with eating disorders evaluate their body image.
Detailed Description
Self-perceived weight or shape disturbance is a core symptom of eating disorders, with heavy therapeutic and prognostic relevance. Developing a reliable and unbiased method to assess body image disturbance is imperative, as feature characteristics of eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, include the overestimation of body size and shape. Among the most essential features of the disorder, this inability to correctly judge one's own body image has been frequently linked to the maintenance of eating disorders. Moreover, persistent perceptual disturbance for one's visual appearance is one of the strong predictors of relapse in AN and bulimia nervosa.
Body image disturbance can be conceptualized as having two main components: perceptual, and attitudinal/affective. These might be considered two distinct constructs, best measured independently. However, clinicians currently rely upon self-report questionnaires that evaluate aggregates of symptoms, perceptual experiences, behaviors, and thoughts linked to the disorder. Some scales selectively evaluate body image characteristics such as body dissatisfaction and body distortion. However, it is unclear to what degree each of these measures quantifies the specific components of perceptual experiences vs. attitudinal/affective aspects. This study aims to evaluate whether a new electronic instrument, here referred to as the 'Body App', which separates estimations of body shape and size from the attitudinal/affective component might result in closer approximations of the perceptual component of weight or shape disturbance, and facilitate the assessment of body image disturbance in eating disorders.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Non Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Diagnostic
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 13 Years to 64 Years (Child, Adult)
- Sex
- Female
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Eating disorders group:
- •Inclusion Criteria:
- •Primary clinical diagnosis of eating disorder
- •Receiving inpatient treatment for eating disorder
- •Body mass index greater than or equal to 14
- •Independently ambulatory
- •Possession of a smartphone with data plan
- •English proficiency
Exclusion Criteria
- •Active suicidal ideation
- •Comorbid schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorder.
- •Healthy comparison group:
- •Inclusion Criteria:
- •No current psychiatric diagnosis
- •Body mass index greater than or equal to 14
- •Independently ambulatory
- •Possession of a smartphone with data plan
- •English proficiency
- •Exclusion Criteria:
- •Body mass index > 41
- •Active suicidal ideation
Arms & Interventions
Eating disorder
Measurement of body image via Body App and relationship to body measurement
Intervention: Body App (Other)
Healthy comparison
Measurement of body image via Body App and relationship to body measurement
Intervention: Body App (Other)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Body image distortion score on the Body App Tool
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Discrepancy between subjective body estimation on avatar and actual measurement of corresponding body part
Secondary Outcomes
- Body image dissatisfaction score on the Photographic Figure Rating Scale(Through study completion, an average of 1 year)
- Body image disturbance on the Body Image States Scale(Through study completion, an average of 1 year)
- Body dysmorphic concerns on the Dysmorphic Concerns Questionnaire(Through study completion, an average of 1 year)
- Body image disturbance on the Body Appreciation Scale-2(Through study completion, an average of 1 year)
- Exercise addiction on the Exercise Addiction Inventory(Through study completion, an average of 1 year)
- Eating disorder severity on the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire(Through study completion, an average of 1 year)