Whether a fashion model or not, some body image concerns are universal

When researchers from UCLA and the Laureate Institute for Brain Research in Tulsa, Oklahoma, wanted to test an app they created to measure body image perception, they went to the body image experts — fashion models.Sixty-five female models signed to professional modeling agencies in London were asked to step off the runway and into a laboratory to help researchers study Somatomap, a mobile and desktop app designed to research body image and ultimately to help doctors treat patients with eating and body dysmorphic disorders.Forthe study, published in the journal JMIR Mental Health, researchers also recruited 38 women from the general population in the United Kingdom using social media and flyers. Then, they put the two groups to the test to see which ones knew their bodies better.Participants used Somatomap ’s 3D avatar to estimate the overall size of their bodies, as well as the size of individual body parts. Measurements were taken to assess the accuracy of how the participants perceived their bodies versus their actual sizes and shapes.They also were asked to highlight areas of concern — such as their face, abdomen, thighs and buttocks — using a 2D manikin in Somatomap. Participants then used words and emoticons to describe how the body parts made them feel.Not surprisingly, the models more accurately estimated their overall body size than women who were not models, likely because models depend on their bodies to make a living. And spend more time looking at themsel...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news