Perceived Body Size Research Articles

Factors Associated with Body Size Perception and Body Image (Dis)Satisfaction in the Elderly: Results of the ELSA-Brasil Study

The study aimed to assess the association between body image perception and (dis)satisfaction and sociodemographic and behavioral factors in the elderly, using multinomial logistic regression. Data were analyzed for 1686 women and 1499 men participating in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Men with less schooling and women with lower per capita income showed higher odds of underestimating their body size. Former smokers of both sexes showed higher odds of overestimating their body size; lower schooling and lower per capita income decreased these odds. Increasing age, lower per capita income, and smoking increased the odds of dissatisfaction due to thinness in men, and married marital status decreased these odds. In women, low per capita income, weekly consumption of vegetables, and smoking increased the odds of such dissatisfaction. Factors that increased the odds of dissatisfaction due to excess weight in both sexes were primary or secondary schooling and former smoking. In women, low per capita income, weak physical activity, weekly consumption of vegetables, and excessive alcohol intake also increased the odds of such dissatisfaction. The results suggest that improved living conditions and the adoption of healthy behaviors can help reduce misperceived negative body image among elderly.

Level of agreement between objectively determined body composition and perceived body image in 6- to 8-year-old South African children: The Body Composition-Isotope Technique study.

To assess the level of agreement between body size self-perception and actual body size determined by body mass index (BMI) z-score and body fatness measured by the deuterium dilution method (DDM) in South African children aged 6–8 years. A cross-sectional sample of 202 children (83 boys and 119 girls) aged 6–8 years from the Body Composition–Isotope Technique study (BC–IT) was taken. Subjective measures of body image (silhouettes) were compared with the objective measures of BMI z-score and body fatness measured by the DDM. The World Health Organization BMI z-scores were used to classify the children as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. DDM-measured fatness was classified based on the McCarthy centile curves set at 2nd, 85th and 95th in conjunction with fatness cut-off points of 25% in boys and 30% in girls. Data were analyzed using SPSS v26. Of 202 children, 32.2%, 55.1%, 8.8%, and 2.4% perceived their body size as underweight, normal, overweight, and obese, respectively. Based on BMI z-score, 18.8%, 72.8%, 6.9%, and 1.5% were classified as underweight, normal, overweight, and obese, respectively. Body fatness measurement showed that 2.5%, 48.0%, 21.8%, and 29.7% were underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese, respectively. The application of silhouettes and BMI z-scores resulted in either overestimation or underestimation of own body size. Overall, the levels of agreements (kappa, κ) between body size perception, body fatness, and BMI for age respectively, were small (κ = 0.083, p = 0.053 and κ = 0.154, p<0.001). Level of agreement between body size perception, body fatness, and BMI z-score was poor. The use of silhouettes made children either overestimate their own body size while being underweight or underestimate their own body size while being overweight or obese. Given the potential health implications associated with misclassification of body size during childhood, correct self-assessment of body size is important, and may be key to the adoption of weight control strategies directed at curbing the escalating obesity epidemic in the country. Scalable measures to allow for more accurate self-assessment are urgently needed–one approach is behavior change communication at all levels.

Nutrition Labeling Usage Influences Blood Markers in Body-Size Self-Conscious Individuals: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2013-2018.

This study analyzed the effects of nutrition labeling and examined whether nutrition labeling usage influences the levels of blood markers, such as high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) in body-size self-conscious individuals. The dependent variables were HDL-C and TG; the independent variables were the respondents’ awareness of nutrition labeling use, sociodemographic factors, perceived health status, stress, lifestyle, frequency of eating out, family history of hyperlipidemia, survey year, body mass index, total energy intake, and cholesterol levels. Body-size perception was assessed by matching body mass index with subjective body-shape recognition using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013–2018). Differences were observed in HDL-C and TG levels according to nutrition labeling usage and body-image perception. The group that recognized body image correctly showed high HDL-C and low TG levels when they actively used nutrition labeling, whereas the group that recognized body image incorrectly showed no significant changes in HDL-C and TG levels even when actively using nutrition labeling. The standard nutritional information, which does not consider individual body-size perceptions, has a restrictive effect. Policies should be developed towards tailored intervention strategies considering individual body-size perception.

Body size preferences and food choice among mothers and children in Malawi.

Overweight in mothers and children in sub‐Saharan Africa is rapidly increasing and may be related to body size perceptions and preferences. We enrolled 268 mother–child (6–59 months) pairs in central Malawi; 71% of mothers and 56% of children were overweight/obese, and the remainder were normal weight. Interviewers used seven body silhouette drawings and a questionnaire with open‐ and closed‐ended questions to measure mothers' perceptions of current, preferred and healthy maternal and child body sizes and their relation to food choices. Overweight/obese and normal weight mothers' correct identification of their current weight status (72% vs. 64%), preference for overweight/obese body size (68% both) and selection of an overweight/obese silhouette as healthy (94% vs. 96%) did not differ by weight status. Fewer overweight/obese than normal weight mothers' preferred body silhouette was larger than their current silhouette (74% vs. 29%, p < .001). More mothers of overweight than normal weight children correctly identified the child's current weight status (55% vs. 42%, p < .05) and preferred an overweight/obese body size for the child (70% vs. 58%, p < .01), and both groups selected overweight/obese silhouettes as healthy for children. More than half of mothers in both groups wanted their child to be larger than the current size. Mothers said that increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, meat, milk, grains, fizzy drinks and fatty foods could facilitate weight gain, but many cannot afford to purchase some of these foods. Their desired strategies for increasing weight indicate that body size preferences may drive food choice but could be limited by affordability.

The ageing body: contributing attitudinal factors towards perceptual body size estimates in younger and middle-aged women

Over-estimation of body size, a core feature of eating disorders (EDs), has been well-documented both in young healthy and ED individuals. Yet, evidence that altered body perception might also affect older women is limited. Here, we examined whether attitudinal components of body image (i.e. the feelings an individual has about their body size and shape) might affect perceived actual and ideal body shape self-estimates in midlife, similarly to younger women. Thirty-two younger (mean age, 24.22 years) and 33 middle-aged (mean age, 53.79 years) women took part to a computerized body perception assessment of perceived, actual and ideal aspects of body image. Body mass index (BMI), societal and interpersonal aspects of appearance ideals, measured by means of Sociocultural Attitudes towards Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ-4), and assessment of body uneasiness and concerns for specific body parts, measured by Body Uneasiness Test (BUT-A/B) scales, were also investigated. Younger and middle-aged women with larger BMI showed greater discrepancy in perceptual distortions from their perceived actual body size. However, middle-aged women with greater body part concerns overestimated their perceived body size, as opposed to younger women who were almost accurate. Unlike middle-aged women, younger women with higher body part concerns desired slimmer ideal body image than their perceived actual. Results suggest that distortions in the perceived actual and ideal body size self-estimates of younger and middle-aged women are best explained by a combination of BMI, body part concerns and the particular age group to which a participant belonged. In the future, a personalized approach for the assessment of women’s perceptions and concerns of specific body areas during lifespan should be adopted.

Not only in my genes: The effects of peers’ genotype on obesity

We use data from three waves of Add Health to study the short- and long-run effects of high school peers’ genetic predisposition to high BMI—measured by grade-mates’ average BMI polygenic scores—on adolescent and adult obesity in the U.S. We find that, in the short-run, a one standard deviation increase in peers’ average BMI polygenic scores raises the probability of obesity for females by 2.8% points, about half the size of the effect induced by a one standard deviation increase in one's own polygenic score. No significant effect is found for males. In the long-run, however, the social-genetic effect fades away, while the effect of one's own genetic risk for BMI increases substantially. We suggest that mechanisms explaining the short-run effect for females include changes in nutrition habits and a distorted perception of body size.

Influences on Body Size Perceptions Among Black Women in the Mississippi Delta.

To identify factors that influence Black women's body size perceptions. Interviews (cognitive mapping exercise) with 25 women; focus group with 7 additional women. Mississippi Delta. Thirty-two black women. Influences on body size perceptions, body mass index, and body satisfaction. Interviewee maps were combined and condensed, using matrix addition and qualitative aggregation, to create a social map. The social map was presented to a focus group. A paired sample t test and descriptive statistics were run to assess weight perception accuracy and body satisfaction. The initial social map contained 27 variables. Male preferences (87.5%) and appearance (64%) were believed by most participants to influence perceptions of body size. The focus group identified lack of encouragement, stress, and substance use as factors worth adding to the map. A statistically significant proportion of interviewees possessed an inaccurate weight perception, t(24) = 2.741, P < .05. Furthermore, 76% were dissatisfied with their current weight status and 80% desired a healthy body size. These findings provide practitioners with leverage points, beyond diet and physical activity, that may improve the efficacy of weight reduction interventions among black women. Considering the paucity of research regarding influences on body size perceptions, this study also provides researchers with participant-defined variables worthy of further examination.

Perception of Body Image and Dietary Habit Among Adults Aged 20–45 Years at Sunyani Metropolis

Abstract Objectives The study assessed the body size perception of respondents against the WHO body mass index and related the body sizes to fat and sugar consumption among 20–45-year-old adults. Methods The study design was a descriptive cross-sectional survey which involved 200 respondents aged 20–45 years, sampled conveniently. at Sunyani. Data on socio-demographic, fat and sugar consumption, anthropometry (weight in kg, height in cm) were collected. The weight and height data were later converted into body mass index using the World Health Organisation (WHO) classification. Sugar and fat intakes were measured by dietary food based assessment. (Analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 25. Proportions were presented for categorical values. Chi square test of association was used to determine relationship between the independent and the dependent outcome variable. Statistical significant was set at and P &amp;lt; 0.05. Results The mean age of the respondents was 35 years. About 35.0% of respondents were males and the rest 65.0% females. Sugar and fat consumption among the respondents were within the recommended dietary allowances. Although 75% of respondents had normal body mass index (kg/m2) and 21% were obese based on the WHO classification, Majority (43.0%) of them perceived their body weights were normal. About 48.1% perceived they are either obese or had normal body size. There was no statistically significant association between respondents’ perceived body image and socio-demographic characteristics except for marital status (X2 = 8.82, P = 0.044). There was no statistically significant association between body image perception and dietary intake of fat and sugar. Conclusions There is great disparity in the perception of respondents body image compared to the WHO classification and married women and men are more particular about how they look. Dietary components studied do not have any association with body image. Funding Sources None.

Body weight perceptions and obesity amongst university employed South African women

ABSTRACT This study aimed to rigorously assess body weight perceptions according to several body image dimensions in rural, employed African women. One hundred and thirty-two employed black African women were recruited at a rural South African university. Participants were asked to choose their ‘ideal’ and ‘feel’ perceived body size from nine standardized body image silhouettes, varying according to body size. Three body image dimensions of interest were measured, (1) ‘feel’ minus ‘ideal’ index (FID), (2) perceived minus the actual weight status (PAD) index and (3) valorization of stoutness index (participants that chose silhouettes corresponding to overweight/obesity). Using the FID dimension, older obese women had significantly higher desire for leanness, with small effects, compared with lean and younger obese women (p = .001). Those women who correctly perceived body weight (PAD = 0), were mostly obese and older (p < .0001), with moderate effects, than non-obese women. Social valorization of stoutness was observed in 58.3% of the sample, but was higher in older obese women, with small effects, compared with lean women (p = .0001). This study has shown that the majority of the study population demonstrated a social valorization of stoutness, despite a desire to be thinner and the ability to adequately perceive their own body weight in accordance with BMI.

Body Image and Sociocultural Predictors of Body Image Dissatisfaction in Croatian and Chinese Women.

In the current paper, two different studies were designed to investigate body image dissatisfaction and perception of the attractive female body in Chinese and Croatian women and men using the correlational and experimental study research approach. Study 1 comprised 266 Chinese (160 women; 106 men) and 261 Croatian participants (161 women; 100 men). Women from both countries were asked to complete the measures of the Contour Rating Scale, SATAQ – 4, Body Area Scale and demographic data, while men were asked to complete the measures of the Contour Rating Scale and demographic data via online surveys. The obtained results indicated that thin internalization predicted body image dissatisfaction in both samples. Besides, while both samples scored relatively high on thin-ideal internalization, Chinese women, who were also in general less satisfied with their body image, had higher scores. Chinese women also scored higher on musculature internalization and felt more pressure from family, friends, and media to conform to standard beauty norms compared to Croatian women. The samples also differed in their perceptions of preferable body size, where Chinese women had a more negative perception of their actual body size. The obtained results furthermore revealed that Chinese men preferred thinner women compared to Croatian men. Moreover, both samples misjudged what their female counterparts found attractive, thinking that women wanted to have even thinner bodies than they actually reported. Similarly, women from both cultures revealed a preference for thinner figures than the ones selected as the most attractive by the opposite sex. Finally, in Study 2, experimental manipulation of thin-ideal was used to examine whether thin priming affected body image dissatisfaction. The obtained results revealed that when primed with thin-ideal women from both countries felt lower satisfaction with their body size. The observed effect was stronger for Chinese participants. Limitations of the current study are discussed in the conclusion.

Use of genetic variation to separate the effects of early and later life adiposity on disease risk: mendelian randomisation study

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether body size in early life has an independent effect on risk of disease in later life or whether its influence is mediated by body size in adulthood.DesignTwo...

The relationship between the body and the environment in the virtual world: The interpupillary distance affects the body size perception.

Previous research suggests that the size of one’s body is used as a metric to scale the external world. On the other hand, the influence of information from the external world on the perception of body size is unclear. It has been suggested that increased inter-pupillary distance (IPD) leads people to perceive the external world as smaller than it actually is. The present study investigated the effect of the IPD on body size perception, and the relationship between the perceived scale of the body and the external world when the IPD is manipulated. To this end, in a virtual environment, we manipulated the IPD as well as the size and presence of participants’ hands, while participant’s eye height was increased vertically. Results showed that, when participants’ eye height was increased and their hands were enlarged, people with a fixed IPD perceived the size of their body to be large (like a giant) while the external world was perceived to be changed minimally. Alternatively, people with increased IPD perceived that the external world as having shrank, whereas their perception of their body size changed little. However, when a viewers’ virtual hands were not shown, the IPD did not affect the individual’s percept of body size, although the IPD did affect one’s perception of the external world. These results suggest that, when the ratio of the size between one’s body and the external world are explicit, the perceived size of one’s body is affected by the IPD or perceived scale of the external world that is affected by the IPD.

Aggression Type Influences Perceptions of a Woman's Body Size, Personality, and Behavior.

Although women engage in both physical and nonphysical aggression, little is known about how aggression type influences perceptions of their morphology, personality, and social behavior. Evolutionary theory predicts that women avoid physical aggression due to risk of injury, which could compromise reproductive success. Engaging in physical aggression might therefore decrease women's perceived mate value. However, physical aggression could be advantageous for some women, such as those who are larger in size and less vulnerable to injury. This presents the possibility that physically aggressive women might be perceived as larger and not necessarily lower in mate value. These hypotheses have not been tested. Across three studies, I used narratives to test the effect of aggression type (physical, verbal, indirect, nonaggressive) on perceptions of women's height, weight, masculinity, attractiveness, and social status. In Studies 1 and 2, participants perceived a physically aggressive woman to be both larger and more masculine than nonphysically aggressive women. In Study 3, participants perceived both a physically aggressive woman and a nonaggressive woman to be larger than an indirectly aggressive woman; the effect of aggression type on perceptions of a hypothetical man's height was not significant. I also found some evidence that aggression type influenced perceptions of attractiveness and social status, but these were small and inconsistent effects that warrant further study. Taken together, the results suggest that physical and indirect aggressive behavior may be associated with certain morphological and behavioral profiles in women.

Evolutionary diversification in the raptorial forelegs of Mantodea: Relations to body size and depth perception.

Limb proportions have evolved among animals to meet functional demands among diverse environments. Studies from terrestrial, vertebrate locomotion have demonstrated that variation in limb proportions have adaptively evolved so animals can perform in a given environment. Most of the research on limb proportion evolution is among vertebrates and terrestrial locomotion, with little information on limb segment evolution in invertebrates or for other functional roles. For example, among invertebrates, multisegmented raptorial forelimbs have evolved multiple times independently to capture prey, but there is little information on the adaptive evolution and diversity of these limbs. Furthermore, as feeding performance is influenced by the sensory system, few studies have examined the coevolution of sensory-motor systems. Using mantises (Mantodea) I examined forelimb diversification among 97 species with a combination of methods, including ternary plots for morphospace visualization, phylogenetically informed allometric relationships, and comparison of evolutionary rates of diversification. Furthermore, using head width as a proxy for depth perception, I examined the correlated evolution of foreleg diversity with depth perception. The results show that among the three segments of the foreleg, the tibia is the smallest, most diverse, and has the highest rate of evolution after body size corrections. Furthermore, while all foreleg segments were related to head width, head width explained the most variation in tibial length compared with other foreleg segments. The results suggest a potential adaptive functional role of tibia length related to the displacement or force produced in this mechanical lever. Furthermore, results from this study support distinct ecomorphs of mantises, as several independent evolutions to grass mimicry evolve similar morphologies. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT: This study demonstrates interspecific variation among segments of an invertebrate raptorial foreleg. Among Mantodea species the tibia is the most diverse and is related to a proxy for depth perception, while the other segments had strong relationships with body size. This suggests an adaptive, functional role of the tibia during prey capture.

Antecedents of ideal body image and body dissatisfaction: The role of ethnicity, gender and age among the consumers in the USA

ABSTRACTThis study explores the extent perceived ideal body image by members of the opposite sex affects the perception of desired body size and body dissatisfaction of males and females across age and ethnic groups in the United States. A national survey was conducted with a total sample of 1,895 participants. A based-model is proposed to test the effect of gender, age, and ethnicity on consumers’ perception toward ideal body images and body dissatisfaction. Multigroup comparison analyses in SEM were run to test the variability of the models across samples. The results indicate that the existence of a gendered ideal body image among members of the opposite sex influences one’s perceptions of the desired ideal body for themselves, for members of the opposite sex, and one’s body dissatisfaction. In addition, these influential correlations were found to be significantly higher among females than males and significantly different across age and ethnic groups. These findings can help the fashion industry and health-related institutions in understanding that body dissatisfaction depends not only on the impact of the media but also on the perceived impact of others’ opinion, which differ among ethnic groups.

Testing a model of body image in the bariatric surgery patient

PurposeThe purpose was to test a published model of body image in the bariatric surgery patient in the clinical office setting. BackgroundA model was created based on clinical observations during field work and the literature. It focuses on five concepts of body image: body attitude, body checking, appearance orientation, perceived body size, and perceived body space. Testing this model 3 months after surgery is important because morphology changes rapidly influencing early changes in body image, yet there is a paucity of research at this time point. MethodsFor this study of 67 bariatric surgery patients, sequential sampling was used. Body image and anthropometric measures (body mass index and other weight loss indicators) were obtained at baseline and 3-months postoperatively. Established model testing criteria were used. ResultsOver 3 months, mean body mass index was significantly reduced. Mean body image was significantly improved regarding all concepts in the model, except body checking. Body image improvement varied widely when individual responses were examined. ConclusionsThe model was successfully tested. Data on the five concepts in the model provided a body image profile at 3 months indicating individuals' degree of improvement. Areas of non-improvement in the early postoperative phase may signal the need for interventions, like support or psychological counseling, for patients who might be struggling with views of themselves after surgery. Preliminary recommendations are made regarding several of the instruments and their use clinically. Researchers should take into consideration the study's short 3-month time frame when designing future studies.

Gender differences in body image dissatisfaction: The role of physical education and sport

Body image is a multidimensional construct encompassing how we perceive, think, feel, and act toward our bodies and lies on a continuum from healthy body perceptions to unhealthy body perceptions. Previous researches suggest that adolescent girls experience higher levels of body dissatisfaction than do their male counterparts. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate on gender differences concerning the perceived body dissatisfaction and uneasiness by adolescents and the role played by the physical education in the process of positive development of the mental representation of the corporeity. 100 students (14-15 years) participated voluntarily in the study and were assigned to trained group (n = 50; 25M, 25F) regularly practicing sports outside the school hours, or untrained group (n = 50; 25M, 25F) did not practice any extracurricular physical activity in the period before the study. After anthropometric measurements (BMI), two standardized psychological tests to assess the degree of personal satisfaction towards their body were administered (i.e., Body uneasiness test (BUT) and contour drawing rating scale (CDRS)). BUT and CDRS scores were significantly lower for total trained group and trained females (p < 0.05). Also, total trained group and males and females trained showed a significant lower BMI (p < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was observed between the untrained and trained males for BUT and CDRS. Findings showed a better body-size perception and a smaller body uneasiness by trained adolescents. Moreover, girls showed anyway a greater dissatisfaction and uneasiness with the external appearance compared to their male counterpart.

Perceptions of the healthiest body in a market-integrating indigenous population in Argentina: Fat idealization and gendered generational differences.

Market integration seems to induce gender-specific generational change in health-related perceptions of body size. We predicted that among the Qom of Argentina, younger women would perceive comparatively thinner bodies as healthiest, demonstrating thin-idealizing body norms, and older women would retain culturally rooted perceptions of heavier bodies as healthiest. As traditional and globalized body size ideals are different for men, we predicted that men would perceive normal bodies as healthiest and would not exhibit generational differences. We asked Qom adults (n = 273) residing in Namqom, Argentina to choose the healthiest body size from the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale (FRS). We performed multiple linear regression with age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) predicting healthy-body perception score. A majority of women chose overweight bodies as healthiest. As predicted, older women preferred heavier bodies compared to their younger peers; this generational effect was stronger among women clinically defined as underweight (BMI ≤19.99 kg/m2 ), and "normal" weight (20.00 kg/m2 ≤ BMI ≤24.99 kg/m2 ), as compared to women clinically defined as overweight (25.00 kg/m2 ≤ BMI ≤29.99 kg/m2 ) or obese (≥30.00 kg/m2 ). Men exhibited no generational effects and largely perceived bodies corresponding to a "normal" BMI as healthiest. Among Qom women, there is evidence for the adoption of the idealization of thinness as healthy alongside traditional perceptions that fat bodies are healthy.

The Representation of Body Size: Variations With Viewpoint and Sex.

Perceived body size is a fundamental construct that reflects our knowledge of self and is important for all aspects of perception, yet how we perceive our bodies and how the body is represented in the brain is not yet fully understood. In order to understand how the brain perceives and represents the body, we need an objective method that is not vulnerable to affective or cognitive influences. Here, we achieve this by assessing the accuracy of full-body size perception using a novel psychophysical method that taps into the implicit body representation for determining perceived size. Participants were tested with life-size images of their body as seen from different viewpoints with the expectation that greater distortions would occur for unfamiliar views. The Body Shape Questionnaire was also administered. Using a two-alternative forced choice design, participants were sequentially shown two life-size images of their whole body dressed in a standardized tight-fitting outfit seen from the front, side, or back. In one image, the aspect ratio (with the horizontal or vertical dimension fixed) was varied using an adaptive staircase, while the other was undistorted. Participants reported which image most closely matched their own body size. The staircase honed in on the distorted image that was equally likely as the undistorted photo to be judged as matching their perception of themselves. From this, the perceived size of their internal body representation could be calculated. Underestimation of body width was found when the body was viewed from the front or back in both sexes. However, females, but not males, overestimated their width when the body was viewed from the side. Height was perceived accurately in all views. These findings reveal distortions in perceived size for healthy populations and show that both viewpoint and sex matter for the implicit body representation. Though the back view of one’s body is rarely–if ever–seen, perceptual distortions were the same as for the front view. This provides insight into how the brain might construct its representation of three-dimensional body shape.

Implicit mechanisms of body image alterations: The covert attention exposure effect.

Visual exposure to extreme-sized bodies elicits explicit self-body image variations. Several features of such modulation remain to be clarified. In this study we explored whether this effect: (i) acts on implicit mechanisms in modifying one's body-size perception, (ii) is body-exposure-specific also at the implicit level, and (iii) is modulated by interoceptive sensibility. We assigned a covert attention task to 100 women, exposing them to extreme-sized bodies (thin and fat) or extreme-sized objects (thin and fat bottles). Before and after the attentional exposure, we tested the association between the "self/others" and "thin/fat" concepts using an Implicit Association Test. We also collected a measure of interoceptive sensibility by means of a self-report questionnaire. Results showed that participants exposed to fat bodies implicitly presented a stronger association between the "self" and "thin" concepts. This association was significantly weaker in the group exposed to thin bodies. This effect was absent after exposure to thin and fat bottles. Notably, participants with a higher tolerance of negative bodily interoceptive signals were less susceptible to the malleability of body image exerted by the exposure attentional task. Our findings shed new light on the relationship between the perception of internal (e.g., visceral) and external (e.g., visual) signals in the representation of our body.