DClinPsy Portfolio Volume 1 of 3 - University of Hertfordshire ...

These two studies provide useful data on the prevalence of body dissatisfaction in UK
populations. However, as they were not longitudinal in design, we cannot know how
many from this sample went on to develop eating disorders.
Prospective study designs have been used to better enable predictions e.g. Cattarin and
Thompson, (1994) found body dissatisfaction at first testing predicted restrictive eating
behaviours three years later. Furthermore, in a comparison study of 14-18 year olds with
either a low or a high rating of weight concern, 10% of the girls in the high weight
concern group developed a partial or full syndrome eating disturbance across four years,
compared to none of the sample in the lower weight concern group (Killen, Taylor,
Hayward, Haydel, Wilson, Hammer, Kraemer, Blair-Greiner and Strachowski, 1996).
A number of further studies support the role of body image dissatisfaction in the
prediction of disordered eating behavior, both concurrently (McVey, Peplar, Davis, Flett
and Abdolell, 2002) and longitudinally (Keel, Fulkerson and Leon, 1997). Dieting and
other weight regulation behaviors could be initiated in response to a perception that one is
overweight or not at an ideal body weight. Stice and Withenton (2002) stated that
theoretically, the relentless pursuit of an ultra-slender body promotes dissatisfaction with
one’s physical appearance. Their large prospective study found that initial elevations in
adiposity, perceived pressure to be thin, thin-ideal internalisation, and deficits in social
support predicted the onset of body image dissatisfaction. They suggested two pathways
to body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls. The first involves intense social pressures to be
thin that emanate from family, friends, and the media. The second involves elevated body
mass in the absence of perceived pressures to be thin. They concluded that the greater the
degree of departure from the current thin-ideal for females, the greater the body
dissatisfaction.
Friestad and Rise (2004) argued that it is not thinness per se, but the stereotypes
associated with it, that makes it a powerful symbol. As when fitting the ideal of physical
appearance, one is also perceived to be more sociable, sexually warm, mentally healthy
and intelligent (Feingold, 1992).
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