Body Perception and Satisfaction in Obese, Severely Obese, and Normal Weight Female Patients

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate body perception and the associated level of dissatisfaction among obese patients. Twenty patients from each category of obese, severely obese, and normal weight individuals had their pictures enlarged or thinned using a computer program to manipulate photographs taken from the front, profile angle, and back. The pictures were shown to patients to represent both the way they thought they appeared and the way they would like to appear. Our results show that severely obese patients correctly perceived themselves as being more corpulent than obese patients, who in turn correctly perceived themselves as being more corpulent than normal weight females. These results remained stable regardless of whether the pictures were taken from the front, profile angle, or back. These results are discussed in terms of clinical and therapeutic interventions.