Body image distortions in XXXX : investigating body size overestimation and body size satisfaction by fMRI.

@entity1 @entity1277 @entity1279 @entity6426
BACKGROUND: Body image distortion is a key symptom of @entity1277 . In behavioral research two components of body image have been defined: attitudes towards the body and body size estimation. Only few fMRI-studies investigated the neural correlates of body image in @entity6426 ; those are constrained by the lack of a direct distinction between these different body image components. METHODS: The present study investigates the neural correlates of two aspects of the body image using fMRI: satisfaction rating and size estimation of distorted own body photographs in @entity1279 @entity1 (15) and controls (16). RESULTS: @entity1 were less satisfied with their current body shape than controls and preferred to be thinner. The amount of insula activity reflects the pattern of the satisfaction rating for @entity1 and controls. @entity1 also overestimated their own body size. For control subjects, an activated cluster in lateral occipital cortex was sensitive for body size distortions, whereas bulimic @entity1 did not demonstrate such a modulation. Furthermore, bulimic subjects did not recruit the middle frontal gyrus (MFG) in contrast to controls during the body size estimation task, maybe indicating a reduced spatial manipulation capacity. Therefore, this activation pattern of lateral occipital cortex and MFG might be responsible for body size overestimation in @entity6426 . CONCLUSIONS: The present results show that bulimic @entity1 exhibit two distinct deficits in body image representations similar to anorectic @entity1 and that specifically associated neuronal correlates can be identified. Concludingly, our study support psychotherapeutic strategies specifically targeting these two aspects of body image distortions.
