Development of a body image assessment procedure for children and preadolescents.

Abstract

Researchers have identified eating disorders among prepubertal children; therefore, there is a need for the development of reliable and valid measures of body image in children. In this investigation, a sample of 257 children ages 8 to 13 in Grades 3 through 7 were administered the Body Image Assessment Procedure for Children's (BIA-C) or the Body Image Assessment Procedure for Preadolescents (BIA-P) and the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT). Support for the reliability and validity of the BIA-C and BIA-P was found. The study also found that separate norms were needed for the male and female BIA-C and BIA-P procedures. Examination of dieting behaviors and eating attitudes of these subjects highlights the fact that children at very young ages have acquired a clear preference for a thin body size; thus, there is a need for continued development of assessment measures for this population.