CLINICAL CORRELATES OF BODY-SIZE DISTORTION

Body-size distortion has been considered a central symptom Of eating d isorders. We studied 35 female eating-disordered patients and 85 contr ols using a computer-based body-size estimation technique. We have fou nd almost identical linear relationships between body-size distortion and weight:height ratios in both groups. In the clinical group, distor tion scores were not correlated with scores on the Eating Attitudes Te st or Beck Depression Inventory but were negatively correlated with bo dy dissatisfaction as measured on the Eating Disorder Inventory. These results raise further questions about the role of body-size distortio n both as a diagnostic criterion and as a complicating phenomenon in e ating disorders.