Thirty-four asymptomatic, normal weight college females were assessed for levels of body size overestimation for self-relevant body areas and corresponding sites on a normal-sized department store mannequin. An adjustable light beam procedure was used for all measures. Minimal differences between black and white subjects eventuated. A consistent pattern emerged indicating greater overestimation for self than mannequin; however, this was not true for all body sites assessed. A greater number of significant correlations among self-estimates and mannequin scores were found than significant relationships between self and mannequin distortion quotients. The results are discussed with regard to the generalizability of body size overestimation.
Traditionally there has been a strong positive association between body size overestimation and anorexia nervosa . However, research now indicates that size distortion is also present in individuals with bulimia nervosa Willmuth, Leitenberg, Rosen, Fondacaro, & Gross, 1985). Furthermore, Thompson and Thompson (1986) recently found that asymptomatic females overestimated four body sites by an average of 25% compared with a 13% level of inaccuracy for a comparative sample of males. These data indicate that body size distortion may be widespread and deserves to be investigated as a general phenomenon.
One of the issues that remains unresolved is the etiological basis for body size estimation inaccuracy.