Assessment of body image dissatisfaction in obese women: Specificity, severity, and clinical significance

This;study assessed the specificity, severity, and clinical significance Of body image dissatisfaction in 79 obese women using the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Examination-Self-Report (J. C. Rosen & J. Reiter, 1996). The vast majority of obese women demonstrated body image dissatisfaction related to their obesity, with almost half reporting the greatest dissatisfaction with their waist or abdomen. On average; they reported significantly more body image dissatisfaction than did 43 nonobese controls. The 2 groups,aid not differ on self-reported symptoms of depression or self-esteem. Body image dissatisfaction correlated significantly with reports of depressive symptoms and lower self-esteem but was not correlated with body mass index. Results are discussed in terms of the role of body image dissatisfaction in understanding and treating obese individuals.