SUBJECTIVE BODY-IMAGE DIMENSIONS IN NORMAL AND ANOREXIC ADOLESCENTS

The subjective body dimensions of adolescent anorexic patients and ado lescents from the general population were studied by means of a new te chnique that combines certain characteristics of the 'body-site estima tion' and the 'whole-image adjustment' procedures. The technique used (Subjective Body Dimensions Apparatus-SBDA) reveals the individual's i dea of the size of the different parts of his/her body, and produces a life-size global silhouette. Eighty-five female anorexic patients (ag es 12 to 18) were compared with 427 adolescents from the general popul ation. The technique showed acceptable test-retest stability. The comp arison group overestimated their thorax, waist and hips, and anorexic patients overestimated all parts of their body bur their thorax, waist and hips especially. For all parts of the body, the anorexic group sh owed greater overestimation (p <.0001) than the comparison group.