Computer-based assessment of body image distortion in anorexia nervosa patients

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Abstract

A computer-based method for the assessment of body image distortions in anorexia nervosa and other eating-disordered patients is presented. At the core of the method is a realistic pictorial simulation of lifelike weight-changes, applied to a real source image of the patient. The patients, using a graphical user interface, adjust their body shapes until they meet their self-perceived appearance. Measuring the extent of virtual fattening or slimming of a body with respect to its real shape and size, allows direct, quantitative evaluation of the cognitive distortion in body image. In a preliminary experiment involving 20 anorexia-nervosa patients, 70% of the subjects chose an image with simulated visual weight gain of about 20% as their “real” body image. None of them recognized the original body image, thus demonstrating the quality of the transformed images. The method presented can be applied in the research, diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of eating disorders.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMedical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention - MICCAI 2000 - 3rd International Conference, Proceedings
EditorsScott L. Delp, Anthony M. DiGoia, Branislav Jaramaz
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages766-775
Number of pages10
ISBN (Print)3540411895, 9783540411895
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000
Event3rd International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention, MICCAI 2000 - Pittsburgh, United States
Duration: 11 Oct 200014 Oct 2000

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume1935
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference3rd International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention, MICCAI 2000
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPittsburgh
Period11/10/0014/10/00

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