Perceptions of underweight images: Are women with anorexia nervosa perceived as attractive and healthy?

Perceptions of underweight images: Are women with anorexia nervosa perceived as attractive and healthy?

The current study examined the impact of receiving information about a woman’s eating disorder status on perceptions of the woman’s health and attractiveness. A total of 99 females and 84 males viewed a photo of a model who had disclosed her diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. Participants were randomly...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Eating and weight disorders Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. e178 - e184
Main Authors: Whisenhunt, B. L., Drab-Hudson, D. L., Stanek, L. R., Dock, A. J., Allen, B. J., Vincent, R. C., Levesque-Bristol, C.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-09-2012
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Anorexia
Anorexia Nervosa - psychology
Attitude to Health
Eating disorders
Esthetics
Female
Females
Humans
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Original Research Paper
Psychiatry
Sex Factors
Social Perception
attractiveness
healthiness
anorexia
Thin-ideal
perception
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Summary:The current study examined the impact of receiving information about a woman’s eating disorder status on perceptions of the woman’s health and attractiveness. A total of 99 females and 84 males viewed a photo of a model who had disclosed her diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. Participants were randomly divided into three groups: model (M) group (those who were informed that the photo showed a model), eating disorders (ED) group (those who were informed that the photo showed a woman with an eating disorder), and no description control (C) group. Male and female participants in the ED group rated the woman in the photo as less healthy than did participants in the M and C groups. However, there were no differences between groups for ratings of attractiveness or the participants’ desire to achieve a similar look (for females). Additionally, male participants rated the photo as less attractive than female participants had predicted. Finally, internalization of the thin ideal was a significant predictor of ratings of health and attractiveness of the woman in the photo.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
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ISSN:1124-4909
1590-1262
DOI:10.1007/BF03325345