Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Conceptualizing body dissatisfaction in eating disorders within a self-discrepancy framework: a review of evidence

  • Review
  • Published:
Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Body dissatisfaction, the negative subjective evaluation of one’s body, is associated with many negative psychological and physical health consequences. One conceptualization of body dissatisfaction includes an experience of discrepancy between perceived actual and ideal body shapes. This paper reviews the literature on three facets of body dissatisfaction from the framework of self-discrepancy theory: perceptions of current weight, ideal body weight, and the relative importance of conforming to ideals. We review components of body dissatisfaction among healthy individuals and eating-disordered individuals. We also address the conceptualization’s relationship among body dissatisfaction, weight history, and dieting to expand the impact of body dissatisfaction research and to provide more information on the nature and treatment of eating disorders.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rodríguez-Cano T, Beato-Fernández L, Llario AB (2006) Body dissatisfaction as a predictor of self-reported suicide attempts in adolescents: a Spanish community prospective study. J Adolesc Health 38(6):684–688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.08.003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Sutter C, Nishina A, Adams RE (2015) How you look versus how you feel: associations between BMI z-score, body dissatisfaction, peer victimization, and self-worth for African American and white adolescents. J Adolesc 43:20–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.05.002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Stice E, Shaw HE (2002) Role of body dissatisfaction in the onset and maintenance of eating pathology: a synthesis of research findings. J Psychosom Res 53(5):985–993. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3999(02)00488-9

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Puhl RM, Heuer CA (2010) Obesity stigma: important considerations for public health. Am J Public Health 100(6):1019–1028. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2009.159491

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Heatherton TF, Mahamedi F, Striepe M, Field AE, Keel P (1997) A 10-year longitudinal study of body weight, dieting, and eating disorder symptoms. J Abnorm Psychol 106(1):117–125. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.106.1.117

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ridolfi DR, Crowther JH (2013) The link between women’s body image disturbances and body-focused cancer screening behaviors: a critical review of the literature and a new integrated model for women. Body image 10(2):149–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2012.11.003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. King TK, Matacin M, White KS, Marcus BH (2005) A prospective examination of body image and smoking cessation in women. Body Image 2(1):19–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2005.01.003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Wilson RE, Latner JD, Hayashi K (2013) More than just body weight: the role of body image in psychological and physical functioning. Body Image 10(4):644–647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.04.007

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Davison TE, McCabe MP (2005) Relationships between men’s and women’s body image and their psychological, social, and sexual functioning. Sex Roles 52(7):463–475. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-005-3712-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. McLaren L, Hardy R, Kuh D (2003) Women’s body satisfaction at midlife and lifetime body size: a prospective study. Health Psychol 22(4):370–377. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Tiggemann M, Lynch JE (2001) Body image across the life span in adult women: the role of self-objectification. Dev Psychol 37(2):243–253. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.22

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Stice E, Hayward C, Cameron RP, Killen JD, Taylor CB (2000) Body-image and eating disturbances predict onset of depression among female adolescents: a longitudinal study. J Abnorm Psychol 109(3):438–444. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.109.3.438

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Bennett K, Stevens R (1996) Weight anxiety in older women. Euro Eat Disord Rev 4(1):32–39. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-0968(199603)4:1<32::AID-ERV113>3.0.CO;2-S

  14. Grossbard JR, Lee CM, Neighbors C, Larimer ME (2009) Body image concerns and contingent self-esteem in male and female college students. Sex Roles 60(3):198–207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-008-9535-y

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Ganem PA, Heer HD, Morera OF (2009) Does body dissatisfaction predict mental health outcomes in a sample of predominantly Hispanic college students? Personal Individ Differ 46(4):557–561. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2008.12.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Fallon EA, Harris BS, Johnson P (2014) Prevalence of body dissatisfaction among a United States adult sample. Eat Behav 15(1):151–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2013.11.007

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. von Lengerke T, Mielck A (2012) Body weight dissatisfaction by socioeconomic status among obese, preobese and normal weight women and men: results of the cross-sectional KORA Augsburg S4 population survey. BMC Pub Health 12:342. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Gardner RM, Stark K, Friedman BN, Jackson NA (2000) Predictors of eating disorder scores in children ages 6 through 14: a longitudinal study. J Psychosom Res 49(3):199–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3999(00)00172-0

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Stice E (2001) A prospective test of the dual-pathway model of bulimic pathology: mediating effects of dieting and negative affect. J Abnorm Psych 110(1):124–135. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.110.1.124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Fairburn CG (2008) Cognitive behavior therapy and eating disorders. Guilford Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  21. Wonderlich SA, Peterson CB, Smith TL, Klein M, Mitchell JE, Crow SJ, Engel SG (2010) Integrative cognitive-affective therapy for bulimia nervosa. In: Grillo CM, Mitchell JE (eds) The treatment of eating disorders: a clinical handbook. Guilford Press, New York, pp 317–338

    Google Scholar 

  22. Higgins ET (1987) Self-discrepancy: a theory relating self and affect. ‎Psychol Rev 94(3):319–340. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.94.3.319

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Higgins ET (1989) Self-discrepancy theory: what patterns of self-beliefs cause people to suffer? Adv Exp Soc Psychol 22:93–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60306-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Wonderlich SA, Engel SG, Peterson CB, Robinson MD, Crosby RD, Mitchell JE, Smith TL, Klein MH, Lysne CM, Crow SJ (2008) Examining the conceptual model of integrative cognitive-affective therapy for BN: two assessment studies. Int J Eat Disord 41(8):748–754. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20551

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Strauman TJ, Vookles J, Berenstein V, Chaiken S, Higgins ET (1991) Self-discrepancies and vulnerability to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. J Pers Soc Psychol 61(6):946–956. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.61.6.946

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Mason TB, Lavender JM, Wonderlich SA, Crosby RD, Engel SG, Strauman TJ, Mitchell JE, Crow SJ, Le Grange D, Klein MH (2016) Self-discrepancy and eating disorder symptoms across eating disorder diagnostic groups. Eur Eat Disord Rev 24(6):541–545. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2483

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Holmes NP, Spence C (2004) The body schema and multisensory representation(s) of peripersonal space. Cogn Process 5(2):94–105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-004-0013-3

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Paillard J (1999) Body schema and body image: a double dissociation in deafferented patients. In: Gantchev GN, Mori S, Massion J (eds) Motor control, today and tomorrow. Academic Publishing House, Sohpia, pp 197–214

    Google Scholar 

  29. Paeratakul S, White MA, Williamson DA, Ryan DH, Bray GA (2002) Sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and BMI in relation to self-perception of overweight. Obes Res 10(5):345–350. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2002.48

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Stock C, Kücük N, Miseviciene I, Petkeviciene J, Krämer A (2004) Misperceptions of body shape among university students from Germany and Lithuania. Health Educ 104(2):113–121. https://doi.org/10.1108/09654280410525559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Gluck ME, Geliebter A (2002) Racial/ethnic differences in body image and eating behaviors. Eat Behav 3(2):143–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1471-0153(01)00052-6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Wardle J, Haase AM, Steptoe A (2006) Body image and weight control in young adults: international comparisons in university students from 22 countries. Int J Obes 30(4):644–651. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803050

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Bellisle F, Monneuse M, Steptoe A, Wardle J (1995) Weight concerns and eating patterns: a survey of university students in Europe. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 19(10):723–730. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803050

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Ahern AL, Bennett KM, Hetherington MM (2008) Internalization of the ultra-thin ideal: positive implicit associations with underweight fashion models are associated with drive for thinness in young women. Eat Disord 16(4):294–307. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640260802115852

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Benninghoven D, Raykowski L, Solzbacher S, Kunzendorf S, Jantschek G (2007) Body images of patients with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and female control subjects: a comparison with male ideals of female attractiveness. Body Image 4(1):51–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2006.12.002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Garner DM (2002) Measurement of eating disorder psychopathology. In: Fairburn CG, Brownell KD (eds) Eating disorders and obesity: a comprehensive handbook. Guildford Press, New York, pp 141–1466

    Google Scholar 

  37. Smeets MA, Kosslyn SM (2001) Hemispheric differences in body image in anorexia nervosa. Int J Eat Disord 29(4):409–416. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.1037

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Gardner RM, Bokenkamp ED (1996) The role of sensory and nonsensory factors in body size estimations of eating disorder subjects. J Clin Psychol 52(1):3–15. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-4679(199601)52:1<3::AID-JCLP1>3.0.CO;2-X

  39. Molinari E (1995) Body-size estimation in anorexia nervosa. Percept Mot Skills 81(1):23–31. https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.1995.81.1.23

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Bowden P, Touyz S, Rodriguez P, Hensley R, Beumont P (1989) Distorting patient or distorting instrument? Body shape disturbance in patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Br J Psychiatry 155(2):196–201. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.155.2.196

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Cornelissen PL, Johns A, Tovée MJ (2013) Body size over-estimation in women with anorexia nervosa is not qualitatively different from female controls. Body Image 10(1):103–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2012.09.003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Farrell C, Lee M, Shafran R (2005) Assessment of body size estimation: a review. Eur Eat Disord Rev 13(2):75–88. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.622

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Guardia D, Carey A, Cottencin O, Thomas P, Luyat M (2013) Disruption of spatial task performance in anorexia nervosa. PloS One 8(1):e54928. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0054928

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Keizer A, Smeets MAM, Dijkerman HC, van Elburg A, Postma A (2012) Aberrant somatosensory perception in anorexia nervosa. Psychiatry Res 200(2):530–537. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2012.05.001

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Keizer A, Smeets MAM, Dijkerman HC, Van den Hout M, Klugkist I, Van Elburg A, Postma A (2011) Tactile body image disturbance in anorexia nervosa. Psychiatry Res 190(1):115–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2011.04.031

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Metral M, Guardia D, Bauwens I, Guerraz M, Lafargue G, Cottencin O, Luyat M (2014) Painfully thin but locked inside a fatter body: abnormalities in both anticipation and execution of action in anorexia nervosa. BMC Res Notes 7:707–717. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-7-707

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  47. Keizer A, Smeets MA, Dijkerman HC, Uzunbajakau SA, van Elburg A, Postma A (2013) Too fat to fit through the door: first evidence for disturbed body-scaled action in anorexia nervosa during locomotion. PLoS One 8(5):e64602. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0064602

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Guardia D, Cottencin O, Thomas P, Dodin V, Luyat M (2012) Spatial orientation constancy is impaired in anorexia nervosa. Psychiatry Res 195(1):56–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2011.08.003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Guardia D, Lafargue G, Thomas P, Dodin V, Cottencin O, Luyat M (2010) Anticipation of body-scaled action is modified in anorexia nervosa. Neuropsychologia 48(13):3961–3966. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.09.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Nico D, Daprati E, Nighoghossian N, Carrier E, Duhamel J-R, Sirigu A (2010) The role of the right parietal lobe in anorexia nervosa. Psychol Med 40(9):1531–1539. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291709991851

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Case LK, Wilson RC, Ramachandran VS (2012) Diminished size–weight illusion in anorexia nervosa: evidence for visuo-proprioceptive integration deficit. Exp Brain Res 217(1):79–87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-011-2974-7

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Eshkevari E, Rieger E, Longo MR, Haggard P, Treasure J (2012) Increased plasticity of the bodily self in eating disorders. Psychol Med 42(4):819–828. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291711002091

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Cash TF, Deagle EA (1997) The nature and extent of body-image disturbances in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa: a meta-analysis. Int J Eat Disord 22(2):107–126. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1098-108X(199709)22:2<107::AID-EAT1>3.0.CO;2-J

  54. Sepulveda AR, Botella J, Leon JA (2002) Body image disturbance in eating disorders: a meta-analysis. Psychol Spain 6:83–95

    Google Scholar 

  55. Vocks S, Legenbauer T, Rüddel H, Troje NF (2007) Static and dynamic body image in bulimia nervosa: mental representation of body dimensions and biological motion patterns. Int J Eat Disord 40(1):59–66. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20336

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Suchan B, Vocks S, Waldorf M (2015) Alterations in activity, volume, and connectivity of body-processing brain areas in anorexia nervosa. Eur Psychol 20:27–33. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Favaro A, Santonastaso P, Manara R, Bosello R, Bommarito G, Tenconi E, Di Salle F (2012) Disruption of visuospatial and somatosensory functional connectivity in anorexia nervosa. Biol Psychiatry 72(10):864–870. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.04.025

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Uher R, Murphy T, Friederich H-C, Dalgleish T, Brammer MJ, Giampietro V, Phillips ML, Andrew CM, Ng VW, Williams SC (2005) Functional neuroanatomy of body shape perception in healthy and eating-disordered women. Biol Psychiatry 58(12):990–997. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.06.001

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Mohr HM, Zimmermann J, Röder C, Lenz C, Overbeck G, Grabhorn R (2010) Separating two components of body image in anorexia nervosa using fMRI. Psychol Med 40(9):1519–1529. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291709991826

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Beato-Fernández L, Rodríguez-Cano T, García-Vilches I, García-Vicente A, Poblete-García V, Castrejon AS, Toro J (2009) Changes in regional cerebral blood flow after body image exposure in eating disorders. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 171(2):129–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pscychresns.2008.01.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Seeger G, Braus DF, Ruf M, Goldberger U, Schmidt MH (2002) Body image distortion reveals amygdala activation in patients with anorexia nervosa—a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Neurosci Lett 326(1):25–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(02)00312-9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Miyake Y, Okamoto Y, Onoda K, Shirao N, Okamoto Y, Otagaki Y, Yamawaki S (2010) Neural processing of negative word stimuli concerning body image in patients with eating disorders: an fMRI study. NeuroImage 50(3):1333–1339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.12.095

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Sorbara M, Geliebter A (2002) Body image disturbance in obese outpatients before and after weight loss in relation to race, gender, binge eating, and age of onset of obesity. Int J Eat Disord 31(4):416–423. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.10046

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Legenbauer T, Vocks S, Betz S, Puigcerver MJB, Benecke A, Troje NF, Rüddel H (2011) Differences in the nature of body image disturbances between female obese individuals with versus without a comorbid binge eating disorder: an exploratory study including static and dynamic aspects of body image. Behav Modif 35(2):162–186. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145445510393478

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Lewer M, Nasrawi N, Schroeder D, Vocks S (2016) Body image disturbance in binge eating disorder: a comparison of obese patients with and without binge eating disorder regarding the cognitive, behavioral and perceptual component of body image. Eat Weight Disord 21(1):115–125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-015-0200-5

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Myers TA, Crowther JH (2007) Sociocultural pressures, thin-ideal internalization, self-objectification, and body dissatisfaction: could feminist beliefs be a moderating factor? Body Image 4(3):296–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2007.04.001

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Brown FL, Slaughter V (2011) Normal body, beautiful body: discrepant perceptions reveal a pervasive ‘thin ideal’from childhood to adulthood. Body Image 8(2):119–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2011.02.002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Holmstrom AJ (2004) The effects of the media on body image: a meta-analysis. J Broadcasting Electronic Media 48(2):196–217. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15506878jobem4802_3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Ferguson CJ (2013) In the eye of the beholder: thin-ideal media affects some, but not most, viewers in a meta-analytic review of body dissatisfaction in women and men. Psychol Pop Media Culture 2(1):20–37. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0030766

    Article  Google Scholar 

  70. Whyte CN, Leonard S, Voss D (2017) A confound-free test of the effects of thin-ideal media images on body satisfaction. J Soc Clin Psychol 35(10):822–839. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2016.35.10.822

    Article  Google Scholar 

  71. Homan K (2010) Athletic-ideal and thin-ideal internalization as prospective predictors of body dissatisfaction, dieting, and compulsive exercise. Body Image 7(3):240–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2010.02.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Cohn LD, Adler NE (1992) Female and male perceptions of ideal body shapes: distorted views among Caucasian college students. Psychol Women Q 16(1):69–79. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.1992.tb00240.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  73. Fallon AE, Rozin P (1985) Sex differences in perceptions of desirable body shape. J Abnorm Psychol 94(1):102–105. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.94.1.102

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Siever MD (1994) Sexual orientation and gender as factors in socioculturally acquired vulnerability to body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. J Consult Clin Psychol 62(2):252–260. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.62.2.252

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Chernyak Y, Lowe MR (2010) Motivations for dieting: drive for thinness is different from drive for objective thinness. J Abnorm Psychol 119(2):276–281. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018398

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Furnham A, Badmin N, Sneade I (2002) Body image dissatisfaction: gender differences in eating attitudes, self-esteem, and reasons for exercise. J Psychol 136(6):581–596. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980209604820

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Tovée MJ, Benson PJ, Emery JL, Mason SM, Cohen-Tovée EM (2003) Measurement of body size and shape perception in eating-disordered and control observers using body-shape software. Br J Psychol 94(4):501–516. https://doi.org/10.1348/000712603322503060

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Cattarin JA, Thompson JK (1994) A three-year longitudinal study of body image, eating disturbance, and general psychological functioning in adolescent females. Eat Disord 2(2):114–125. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640269408249107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  79. Shaw JA, Herzog DB, Clark VL, Berner LA, Eddy KT, Franko DL, Lowe MR (2012) Elevated pre-morbid weights in bulimic individuals are usually surpassed post-morbidly: implications for perpetuation of the disorder. Int J Eat Disord 45(4):512–523. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20985

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  80. Schur EA, Sanders M, Steiner H (2000) Body dissatisfaction and dieting in young children. Int J Eat Disord 27(1):74–82. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1098-108X(200001)27:1<74::AID-EAT8>3.0.CO;2-K

  81. Lowe MR, Levine AS (2005) Eating motives and the controversy over dieting: eating less than needed versus less than wanted. Obes Res 13(5):797–806. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2005.90

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Witt AA, Berkowitz SA, Gillberg C, Lowe MR, Råstam M, Wentz E (2014) Weight suppression and body mass index interact to predict long-term weight outcomes in adolescent-onset anorexia nervosa. J Consult Clin Psychol 82(6):1207–1211. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037484

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Berner LA, Shaw JA, Witt AA, Lowe MR (2013) The relation of weight suppression and body mass index to symptomatology and treatment response in anorexia nervosa. J Abnorm Psychol 122(3):694–708. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033930

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  84. Butryn ML, Lowe MR, Safer DL, Agras WS (2006) Weight suppression is a robust predictor of outcome in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of bulimia nervosa. J Abnorm Psychol 115(1):62–75. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.115.1.62

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  85. Carter FA, McIntosh VV, Joyce PR, Bulik CM (2008) Weight suppression predicts weight gain over treatment but not treatment completion or outcome in bulimia nervosa. J Abnorm Psychol 117(4):936–940. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013942

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  86. Lowe MR, Annunziato RA, Markowitz JT, Didie E, Bellace DL, Riddell L, Maille C, McKinney S, Stice E (2006) Multiple types of dieting prospectively predict weight gain during the freshman year of college. Appetite 47(1):83–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2006.03.160

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  87. Herzog DB, Thomas JG, Kass AE, Eddy KT, Franko DL, Lowe MR (2010) Weight suppression predicts weight change over 5 years in bulimia nervosa. Psychiatry Res 177(3):330–334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2010.03.002

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  88. Lowe MR, Thomas JG, Safer DL, Butryn ML (2007) The relationship of weight suppression and dietary restraint to binge eating in bulimia nervosa. Int J Eat Disord 40(7):640–644. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20405

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Keski-Rahkonen A, Bulik CM, Neale BM, Rose RJ, Rissanen A, Kaprio J (2005) Body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness in young adult twins. Int J of Eat Disord 37(3):188–199. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  90. Suisman JL, O’Connor SM, Sperry S, Thompson JK, Keel PK, Burt SA, Neale M, Boker S, Sisk C, Klump KL (2012) Genetic and environmental influences on thin-ideal internalization. Int J Eat Disord 45(8):942–948. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22056

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  91. Wardle J, Carnell S, Haworth CM, Plomin R (2008) Evidence for a strong genetic influence on childhood adiposity despite the force of the obesogenic environment. Am J Clin Nutr 87(2):398–404. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.115.122820

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  92. Duncan L, Yilmaz Z, Gaspar H, Walters R, Goldstein J, Anttila V, Bulik-Sullivan B, Ripke S, Thornton L, Hinney A, Daly M, Sullivan PF, Zeggini E, Breen G, Bulik CM (2017) Significant locus and metabolic genetic correlations revealed in genome-wide association study of anorexia nervosa. Am J Psychiatry 174(9):850–858. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.16121402

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  93. Ferreira C, Pinto-Gouveia J, Duarte C (2013) Self-compassion in the face of shame and body image dissatisfaction: implications for eating disorders. Eat Behav 14(2):207–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2013.01.005

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  94. Mosewich AD, Kowalski KC, Sabiston CM, Sedgwick WA, Tracy JL (2011) Self-compassion: a potential resource for young women athletes. J Sport Exerc Psychol 33(1):103–123. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.33.1.103

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  95. Albertson ER, Neff KD, Dill-Shackleford KE (2015) Self-compassion and body dissatisfaction in women: a randomized controlled trial of a brief meditation intervention. Mindfulness 6(3):444–454. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-014-0277-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  96. Lock JL, Grange D (2013) Treatment manual for anorexia nervosa: a family-based approach, 2nd edn. The Guilford Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  97. Delinsky SS, Wilson GT (2006) Mirror exposure for the treatment of body image disturbance. Int J Eat Disord 39(2):108–116. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20207

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  98. Key A, George CL, Beattie D, Stammers K, Lacey H, Waller G (2002) Body image treatment within an inpatient program for anorexia nervosa: the role of mirror exposure in the desensitization process. Int J Eat Disord 31(2):185–190. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.10027

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Elin L. Lantz, Monika E. Gaspar, Rebecca DiTore, Amani D. Piers & Katherine Schaumberg

  2. Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Box 42051, Lubbock, TX, 79409-2051, USA

    Monika E. Gaspar

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 10618 Neurosciences Hospital CB #7160, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Katherine Schaumberg

Authors
  1. Elin L. Lantz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Monika E. Gaspar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rebecca DiTore
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Amani D. Piers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Katherine Schaumberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elin L. Lantz.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there are no conflicts of interest.

Research involving human and animal rights

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed Consent

For this type of study formal consent is not required.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lantz, E.L., Gaspar, M.E., DiTore, R. et al. Conceptualizing body dissatisfaction in eating disorders within a self-discrepancy framework: a review of evidence. Eat Weight Disord 23, 275–291 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0483-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0483-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation