How Does Variation in the Body Composition of Both Stimuli and Participant Modulate Self-Estimates of Men’s Body Size

Bibliographic Data

ID15530346
AuthorsVicki Groves (0000-0003-3606-6186, Northumbria University), Piers L Cornelissen (0000-0002-2695-9581, Northumbria University), Piers Cornelissen, Kristofor Mccarty (0000-0001-9189-1520, Northumbria University), Sophie Mohamed (0000-0003-1174-5326, University of Lincoln), Nadia Maalin (0000-0001-7055-1658, University of Lincoln), Martin J Tovée (0000-0001-9642-4462, University of Lincoln, corresponding author), Katri K Cornelissen (Northumbria University), Katri Cornelissen
Year2019
Volume10
Pages720-720
Publication date2019-10-09
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00720
PMID31649565
OpenAlexW2980178499
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited57

When measured in units of body mass index (BMI), how much variation in men's self-estimates of body size is caused by i) variation in participants' body composition and ii) variation in the apparent muscle mass and muscle tone of the stimuli being judged? To address this, we generated nine sets of male CGI bodies representing low, mid, and high muscle mass rendered at low, mid, and high muscle tone, from 18.75 to 40 BMI hse units. BMI hse units in this study are estimates of BMI derived from calibration equations predicting BMI from waist and hip circumference, age, sex, height, and ethnicity in the Health Survey for England databases. Forty-five healthy adult men estimated their body size using a yes-no paradigm for each combination of muscle mass/tone. We also measured participants' body composition with Harpenden callipers and their body concerns with psychometric questionnaires. We show that stimulus variation in apparent muscle mass/tone can introduce differences up to ∼2.5 BMI hse units in men's self-estimates of body size. Moreover, men with the same actual BMI, but different body composition, showed up to ∼5-7 BMI hse unit differences in self-estimates of body size. In the face of such large errors, we advocate that such judgments in men should be made instead by simultaneously manipulating both the adiposity and the muscle mass of stimuli which are appropriately calibrated for body composition, so that the participant can match the body size and shape they believe themselves to have to the stimulus they see

Audiology · Body mass index · Circumference · Muscle mass · Muscle tone · Physical medicine and rehabilitation · Stimulus (psychology · Waist · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Mathematics · Medicine · Obesity and Health Practices · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology · Endocrinology

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