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Eye movements and body size judgments in the obese
Author(s) -
Gardner Rick M.,
Morrell James A.,
Watson Deborah N.,
Sandoval Susan L.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(199009)9:5<537::aid-eat2260090509>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - waist , body weight , obesity , audiology , psychology , medicine , physical medicine and rehabilitation
Abstract Obese and normal weight subjects estimated their body size using television‐ (TV) video methodology in which they adjusted the size of their body image on a TV monitor. Subject's eye movements were recorded throughout the task. Results indicated that both groups of subjects looked most at their chest, waist, and head while estimating their body size, with relatively little attention paid to their thighs or feet, and calves. Obese subjects viewed their waist more than normal weight subjects do. Overall, subjects underestimated their body size by 4.62%. There were no differences between estimations of obese and normal weight subjects, although females underestimated their size more than males. Subjects overestimated on descending trials where the initial image was presented as too large and underestimated on ascending trials where they had to increase the size of the initial image. Subjects were also faster at reaching final size estimation on ascending trials. Results are discussed with respect to previous disparate findings, and implications for treating eating disorders are described. Concerns relevant to the technology and methodology of measuring body size are discussed also.