BODY IMAGE

AND EATING
DISORDERS
By: Courtney
Stanczak

ANOREXIA NERVOSA (AN)

An eating disorder characterized by excessive weight loss as
well as self starvation
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health
Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) contains 2 criteria to be diagnosed with
anorexia nervosa (AN)
Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though
underweight (p. 589).
Disturbance in the way in which ones body weight or shape is
experienced, undue infl uence of body weight or shape on selfevaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body
weight (p. 589).

Unfinished Glog #2 | Publish with Glogster! (n.d.). Retrieved May 31, 2016, from http://www.glogster.com/alexiswulff10/unfinishedglog-2/g-6lour4tn3f48ti0f17q8ga0

BODY IMAGE DISTURBANCE (BID)

Aff ects a persons mental image of their body, beliefs
about the way their body looks, and deny any harmful
eff ects when at a low weight
Strong value in weight and shape aff ects an individuals
self-worth
Individual feels accomplished if able to maintain a low body
weight

Research suggests only half of studies conducted with AN

individuals overestimate their body size
BID in AN is comparable to BN (bulimia nervosa)
Also have similar levels of distress, preoccupation, investment,
disturbance, and quality of life (p 282).

Body Image in Eating Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved May 31, 2016, from
http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/blog/body-image-in-eating-disorders

MECHANISMS THAT MAINTAIN BID

IN AN
Selective Attention: have an emphasis on what body parts
are disliked and enforces negative thoughts
Body size over estimation
Excessive avoidance or checking
Avoidance: Camoufl aging body through baggy clothing or
avoiding situations that allows others to see their body
Checking: Weighing and measuring oneself

Greater negative emotions and thoughts than people

without eating disorders
Can be reduced by exposure such as continuous mirror exposure

The science of ... body dysmorphic disorder. (n.d.). Retrieved June 01, 2016, from
http://www.phillyvoice.com/science-body-dysmorphic-disorder/

EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS FOR BID

IN AN
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is most eff ective
CBT includes

Psychoeducation
Cognitive restructuring
Imagery
Exposure
Behavioral Experiments

CBT Aids Patients with Body Dysmorphic Disorder | Psych

Central News. (2014). Retrieved June 01, 2016, from
http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/02/12/cbt-aids-patientswith-body-dysmorphic-disorder/65791.html

NON-FAT-PHOBIC AN
Not all Individuals with AN
are fear driven of gaining
weight
Dr. Sing Lee suggests some
reasons for denial of food,
not dealing with body image,
are complaints (e.g.,
nausea, bloating), religious
beliefs, desire for control,
and desire to infl uence family
dynamics ( p 281).
Non-fat-phobic anorexia is
widely acknowledged and
accepted
These individuals have less
severe eating behaviors than
individuals who are have a
fear of being fat

Child Healing: Eating Disorders, Anxiety,

Anger and Forgiveness Therapy. (n.d.).
Retrieved June 01, 2016, from
http://childhealing.com/articles/eatingDis
order.php

BODY IMAGE AND BULIMIA

NERVOSA
Bulimia Nervosa: excessive binge eating
followed by compensatory behaviors
such as self-induced vomiting or fasting
Primary symptom is binge eating that
occurs about twice a week
Occurs in 1-3% of adolescents and
young adult women
Self evaluation is based on body shape
and eating habits
Bulimia Nervosa - Vibrant Smiles
Mableton GA Dentist Dr Chea
2 subtypes as classifi ed by DSM-IV
Rainford. (2016). Retrieved June

01, 2016, from

Purging: self induced vomiting or misuse of
http://vibrantsmilesga.com/bulim
laxatives, and diuretics
ia-nervosa/
Nonpurging: Fasting or excessive exercise

BODY IMAGE DISTURBANCE IN BN

Women overestimate their body size due
to cognitive factors
Thin ideal is perceived as beautiful

Experience body dissatisfaction

Studies show BN individuals report negative
body image 90% more than the control
individuals

Negative automatic thoughts

Body Image English Project.
Body Image avoidance and body checking(n.d.). Retrieved June 01,
2016, from
is highest in BN individuals
https://www.emaze.com/@ACF
CCWQO/Body-Image:-English Refusing to weigh oneself and examining
Project
oneself in the mirror
Studies found 62% reported actively avoiding
shape and weight checking, most often at
times when they had gained weight (p 290291).

THEORETICAL MODELS OF BID

AND BN
Factors aff ecting body dissatisfaction: peers, media,
family, and societys pressure to be thin
Due to high pressure of being thin it causes body
dissatisfaction that leads to dieting and bulimic
symptomatology
Dieting may cause binge eating due to caloric
deprivation
Body dissatisfaction causes a negative aff ect in a
persons physical appearance and may lead to binge
eating

MailOnline, T. J. (2015). 'Feminists are body-shaming ME', claims model who was savaged after starring in 'Are You
Beach Body Ready?' ad. Retrieved June 01, 2016, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3056078/Modelstarring-controversial-Beach-Body-Ready-ad-hits-feminist-critics-accusing-body-shaming-HER.html

CONTINUED
Factors that maintain BN: overvaluation and control
of shape, weight and eating leads to severely
restrictive dieting, in which individuals limit both the
quantities and types (safe vs. forbidden goods) of
foods they consume, and the use of other forms of
compensatory weight control strategies, including
purging via self-induced vomiting, laxative and
diuretic misuse, and excessive exercising (P 292).

http://www.hercampus.com/health/mental-health/too-much-good-thing-what-does-over-exercising-really-m

TREATMENT FOR BN
Cognitive-behavioral therapy:
Focus on identifying and challenging individuals automatic
thoughts about their own body shape and weight
Also identify consequences of overvaluation of body weight
and shape

Dialectical Behavior Therapy in the Treatment of Bulimia and Binge Eating Disorder: Research & Practical
Applications Debra L. Safer, MD Department of. (n.d.). Retrieved June 01, 2016, from

BODY IMAGE AND BINGE-EATING

DISORDER (BED)
Binge Eating Disorder: Reoccurring binge eating
episodes of a large amount of food with the absence
of compensatory weight control behaviors
Characterization: eating quickly, eating even when
you are full, eating for no reason, and hiding your
eating behaviors
DSM-IV classifi es binge eating as occurring at least
once per week for longer than 3 months
Clinical problems associated with binge eating:
depressive symptoms, low self-esteem, and poor
quality of life
Find the Best Binge
Eating Treatment
Research concludes a high percentage of individuals
Programs and Dual
with BED have psychiatric comorbidity
Diagnosis Rehabs.

(n.d.). Retrieved
June 01, 2016, from
http://www.bulimia.c
om/topics/bingeeating/

SHAPE AND WEIGHT

OVERVALUATION
Importance one has with their body weight and shape
BED individuals report more dissatisfaction over
shape and weight than overweight as well as normal
weight individuals without BED
Small percentage of people will report that shape and
weight aff ect their self-worth
A longitudinal study showed overvaluation of shape and
weight aff ects self-esteem more than body dissatisfaction in
BED individuals

BED individuals suff er the most from eating pathology

Yildiz, Simge CAP Project. (n.d.). Retrieved June 01, 2016, from http://ysimge.blogspot.com/p/binge-eating.html

BODY IMAGE COPING STRATEGIES

IN BED
Body checking: decreases anxiety through
reassurance
Body avoidance, appearance correcting, and
camoufl aging: avoiding wearing clothes making them
aware of their body shape
Self-regulation: done through eating

What to do before applying makeup??? (n.d.). Retrieved June 01, 2016, from
http://www.seeyourinterest.com/2013/05/what-to-do-before-applying-makeup/

STABILITY OF BODY IMAGE OVER

TIME
Women with BED showed a
high percentage of weight
dissatisfaction before, at the
time of, and prior to the
diagnosis of BED
Studies show BED individuals
compared to BN individuals
suff ered from poorer body
image

Morethanflesh. (n.d.). Retrieved June 01, 2016,

from
https://morethanflesh.wordpress.com/tag/negativ

BODY IMAGE AND TREATMENT OF

BED
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal
psychotherapy (IPT)
Shape/weight concern and shape/weight
overvaluation eff ect treatment
CBT focus of treatment: Correcting the individuals
preconceived idea of their body shape and weight
Body exposure techniques have been implemented to
change altered body image

The Facts on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Abuse Treatment - Forterus Treatment Center. (n.d.).
Retrieved June 01, 2016, from http://forterustreatment.com/therapy/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/

BODY IMAGE AND BODY

DYSMORPHIC DISORDER (BDD)
DSM-IV defi nes BDD as preoccupation with an
imagined defect in appearance; if slight physical
anomaly is present, the persons concern is markedly
excessive (p 305).
To be considered with BDD the preoccupation must
cause distress or impairment in the persons life
BDD may have a delusional component and is
considered as a psychotic disorder
Highest rate of BDD appears in inpatients psychiatry
units with 13-16% of patients having BDD
Mirror gazing: A compulsive and
addictive aspect of body dysmorphic
disorder. (2015). Retrieved June 01,
2016, from
http://www.psypost.org/2015/09/mirro
r-gazing-a-compulsive-and-addictiveaspect-of-body-dysmorphic-disorder37345

CLINICAL FEATURES
Appearance Preoccupations: preoccupied about their
fl aws that are minimal or nonexistent and causes time
consuming stressors
Repetitive Behaviors: checking fl aws in mirror, skin
picking, looking for reassurance, and camoufl age
perceived deformity
Psychosocial functioning and quality of life: will not
attend school, work, and may remain housebound due to
insecurities
Suicidality: suicide is very high amongst patients with
BDD
BDD occurs usually during adolescence and most BDD
patients have co-occurring mental disorders such as
major depressive disorder

Botched (TV series). (n.d.). Retrieved June 01, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botched_(TV_series

MUSCLE DYSMORPHIA (MD) IN

BDD INDIVIDUALS
MD occurs mostly in males
MD is the thought of not being muscular and having a
negative body image due to being too small
Individuals with MD experience a poor quality of life,
higher suicide attempts, and substance abuse
disorders to feeling insuffi ciently muscular

Body Dysmorphic Disorder. (2014). Retrieved June 01, 2016, from http://positivemed.com/2014/05/16/bodydysmorphic-disorder/

BODY IMAGE DISTURBANCE IN

BDD
Both genders felt less physically healthy and females
ignored signs of being ill
BDD individuals suff er the most from impaired body
image aff ecting their quality of life
BDD goes widely undiagnosed

21 Reasons to Eat More Bananas | Eat This Not That. (2016). Retrieved June 01, 2016, from
http://www.eatthis.com/benefits-of-bananas

ASSESSING BDD
Questions to ask oneself if BDD is present
Are you constantly worried about your appearance?
Are you preoccupied with your appearance and fl aws?
How do your fl aws aff ect your anxiety, depression, or even
suicidal thoughts?
Do your concerns interfere with your life such as with work
or school?

Psychology / Psychiatry Mental Health Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery Depression Body Dysmorphic Disorder:
Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved June 01, 2016, from

TREATMENT OF BDD
Serotonin-reuptake inhibitors proved to be eff ective
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the psychotherapy
used

Naish, J. (2012). Happy pills can give you digestive problems and make you MORE depressed.
Retrieved June 01, 2016, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2144406/Antidepressantseffects-Happy-pills-digestive-problems.html