A database of body-only computer-generated pictures of women for body-image studies: Development and preliminary validation

Abstract

The body-shape-related stimuli used in most bodyimage studies have several limitations (e.g., a lack of pilot validation procedures and the use of non-body-shape-related control/neutral stimuli). We therefore developed a database of 61 computer-generated body-only pictures of women, wherein bodies were methodically manipulated in terms of fatness versus thinness. Eighty-two young women assessed the pictures' attractiveness, beauty, harmony (valence ratings), and body shape (assessed on a thinness/fatness axis), providing normative data for valence and body shape ratings. First, stimuli manipulated for fatness versus thinness conveyed comparable emotional intensities regarding the valence and body shape ratings. Second, different subcategories of stimuli were obtained on the basis of variations in body shape and valence judgments. Fat and thin bodies were distributed into several subcategories depending on their valence ratings, and a subcategory containing stimuli that were neutral in terms of valence and body shape was identified. Interestingly, at a descriptive level, the thinness/fatness manipulations of the bodies were in a curvilinear relationship with the valence ratings: Thin bodies were not only judged as positive, but also as negative when their estimated body mass indexes (BMIs) decreased too much. Finally, convergent validity was assessed by exploring the impacts of body-image-related variables (BMI, thin-ideal internalization, and body dissatisfaction) on participants' judgments of the bodies. Valence judgments, but not body shape judgments, were influenced by the participants' levels of thin-ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction. Participants' BMIs did not significantly influence their judgments. Given these findings, this database contains relevant material that can be used in various fields, primarily for studies of body-image disturbance or eating disorders.

Novel Assessment of Own and Ideal Body Perception Among Women: Validation of the Computer-Generated Figure Rating Scale

“…This result probably illustrates the impact of Western societies' thinness standards on participants' judgments of body shapes. More specifically, Moussally et al (2016) showed that thin bodies with BMIs ranging from normal weight to moderate underweight (up to a BMI of 16.12 kg/m 2 ) were assessed as attractive. It is therefore possible that thinness standards conveyed by the media play a role in the development of a cognitive distortion by suggesting that mild and even moderate underweight corresponds to a normal BMI (for the impact of thinness exposure on perceptions of body normality, see Glauert et al 2009).…”

“…To overcome these limitations, we developed a new FRS consisting of a broad continuum of 27 realistic, validated computer-generated women's bodies selected from the database proposed by Moussally et al (2016). This database contains women's bodies that were gradually manipulated from extreme thinness to extreme fatness.…”

“…This database contains women's bodies that were gradually manipulated from extreme thinness to extreme fatness. Moussally et al (2016) obtained valence and thinness/fatness ratings of bodies and proposed different subcategories of bodies from these ratings (e.g., fat/negative, thin/positive, or thin/ negative bodies). These authors also showed that the thin bodies were more positively judged by women with high levels of BD or thin-ideal internalization.…”

“…The Computer-Generated Figure Rating Scale (CGFRS) is composed of 27 computer-generated women's bodies (without heads) dressed in white panties and undershirts. The bodies were selected from Moussally et al (2016) database and represent a continuum of body shapes from extreme underweight to morbid obesity (estimated BMIs range from 12.69 to 69.56 kg/m 2 ). The 27 bodies are distributed into the BMI classes proposed by the World Health Organization (1995,2000,2004) as follows: (1) moderate to severe underweight: eight bodies with a BMI <17.00 kg/m 2 ; (2) mild underweight: three bodies with a BMI between 17.00 and 18.49 kg/m 2 ; (3) normal range: five bodies with a BMI between 18.50 and 24.99 kg/m 2 ; (4) overweight: three bodies with a BMI between 25.00 and 29.99 kg/m 2 ; and (5) obesity: eight bodies with a BMI > 30.00 kg/m 2 .…”

“…Finally, the computer-generated bodies were principally designed for Caucasian women (Moussally et al 2016). As Moussally et al suggested, it is possible to present the bodies in grayscale to attenuate the impact of ethnicity.…”