Author(s): KROFF, J., ROSS, T., BURROWS-JACK, R., AREND, A., PRETORIUS, D. , Institution: UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN , Country: SOUTH AFRICA, Abstract-ID: 2218

Introduction
The study aimed to investigate the presence of body size distortion among a cohort of healthy individuals. Body size distortion was operationally defined as a discrepancy exceeding 2% between an individual’s actual body size and their perceived body size, which may carry significant health implications. This study further examined variations in the degree of body size distortion between individuals classified as normal-weight and those categorized as overweight or obese. Additionally, it sought to explore potential associations between self-reported body image satisfaction and perceived body size.
Methods
One hundred apparently healthy participants underwent a series of anthropometric measurements, body size- and body image questionnaires during a single visit to the laboratory.
Results:
The findings revealed that a substantial proportion of participants (45%) underestimated their body size, while 42% overestimated it. Notably, individuals with higher body mass indices (BMIs), body fat percentages, and waist circumferences tended to underestimate their body size in comparison to those with lower anthropometric measures. A predominant number of obese individuals (70.7%) also underestimated their body size, supporting previous research that suggests a higher prevalence of body size underestimation in this population. Although no direct correlation was observed between body image satisfaction and body size perception (rho = 0.028, p = 0.786), a conditional relationship emerged, indicating that body image satisfaction significantly contributed to the variance (51.2%) in body size perception when waist circumference and stress levels were factored into the analysis.
Discussion
This study underscores the discrepancy between actual and perceived body size, specifically highlighting a more pronounced tendency for body size underestimation among obese individuals compared to those of normal weight. Furthermore, the results contribute to the existing body of literature by demonstrating that body image.