Body size estimation is influenced by actual-ideal body size discrepancy: a series of studies among Chinese adolescent girls.

Abstract

Many adolescent girls desire to have a thinner body, including those of normal weight. However, it is not fully known if this reflects solely a preference for a particular body type/size, or also is influenced by holding a distorted perception of one's body size. The current series of studies aimed to examine the (in)accuracy of body size perception among adolescent girls, as well as the extent to which distorted perceptions of body size extended to perceptions of other girls' bodies. In Study 1, 48 pairs of girls who desired to be thinner were asked to estimate the circumferences of three parts (arm, waist and thigh) of their own body and that of a study partner. Participants generally overestimated the circumferences of both their own and their partner's bodies, with this overestimation stable over a four-month follow-up. In contrast, in Study 2, no body size overestimation was observed for self or partners among 44 pairs of girls who were satisfied with their body size. Study 3 further revealed significant correlations between body size overestimation and disordered eating symptomology among 43 pairs of girls who desired to be thinner. As a whole, findings demonstrated that body size overestimation was limited to adolescent girls who were dissatisfied with their body size, and that body size overestimation was associated with disordered eating symptomology. Thus, perceptual distortions in body size may play a role in both body size dissatisfaction and disordered eating among adolescents.