Body-size preception and preferences in stable-weight and improved-weight anorexic patients

This study compared attitudes to body-size in anorexic patients and control subjects using a series of drawings of female figures in a paired comparison task. While the anorexic patients rated themselves as thinner than did the control subjects, both groups were found to prefer a thinner-than-average body-size. Anorexic patients who had maintained a stable low weight over the previous year tended to prefer a body-size slightly larger than they currently perceived themselves to be, while anorexics who had gained weight preferred a body-size thinner than their current self-rated body-size. The degree of dissatisfaction with body-size appeared to be related to the severity of the illness. All groups made significantly thinner ratings for clothed as compared to unclothed figures. The implications and prognostic significance of these findings are discussed.