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Body image assessment for obesity (BIA-O): development of a new procedure

International Journal of Obesity volume 24, pages 1326–1332 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: A new measure of body image, named the body image assessment for obesity (BIA-O) was developed and tested for reliability and validity in a sample of 1209 adult men and women. Separate BIA-O procedures were developed for men and women. Current, ideal and reasonable body image estimates of Caucasian and African-American men and women were compared.

METHOD: Figural stimuli of males and females were developed for body sizes ranging from very thin to very obese in 18 increments. Participants selected figures that represented estimates of current, ideal and reasonable (a body size that could be maintained over time) body size. Some participants (n=641) also completed two measures of body dissatisfaction in a test of the validity of the BIA-O as a measure of body dissatisfaction. A sample of 77 participants was administered the BIA-O on two occasions to test the test–retest reliability of the BIA-O.

RESULTS: The reliability of the BIA-O was supported by test–retest reliability coefficients which ranged from 0.65 to 0.93. Concurrent validity of the discrepancy between current and ideal and current and reasonable body size estimates was supported by positive correlations with two measures of body dissatisfaction. The BIA-O body size estimates of Caucasians and African-Americans, controlled for age and BMI, were compared. As BMI increased, Caucasian men and women were found to select larger current body size estimates in comparison to African-Americans.

DISCUSSION: The reliability and validity of the BIA-O were supported. Greater body size dissatisfaction in obese Caucasians, relative to African-Americans of the same size, may be a function of biased estimates of current body size.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the efforts of David M Levine, MD, ScD, MPH and Rebecca Stallings, MHS at Johns Hopkins University and Nicole Mickley at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in the collection of data used in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Louisiana State University, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, 70808, LA, USA

    DA Williamson, LG Womble, NL Zucker, DL Reas, MA White, DC Blouin & F Greenway

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  1. DA Williamson
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  2. LG Womble
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  3. NL Zucker
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  4. DL Reas
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  5. MA White
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to DA Williamson.

Appendix

Appendix

t-Scores for each gender and race group may be calculated using the following equation and regression coefficients:

For example, the following is the regression line for CBS for Caucasian women:

y=0.339(BMI)−2.148

such that b1=0.339 and b0=−2.148. The standard error of measurement is 2.1047. Therefore, a t-score for a Caucasian woman with a BMI=35 who selected a CBS=8 would be calculated as:

=41.84 ≅ 42

The equation can be used to generate t-scores for IBS and RBS as well.

The following scenario illustrates the usefulness of t-scores in conceptualizing body image disturbances:

Table A1

Table 2 Regression coefficients for prediction of CBI and IBI
Full size table

  • Person A is a Caucasian woman with a BMI of 35. Her body image selections are: CBS=13 (t-score=66), IBS=4 (t-score=44), RBS=5 (t-score=44).

  • Person B is a Caucasian woman with a BMI of 35. Her BIA-O selections are: CBS=10 (t-score=51), IBS=5 (t-score=50), RBS=6 (t-score=50).

A review of the t-scores indicates that Person A has a large discrepancy between her CBS and IBS t-scores (difference=22), whereas Person B has little discrepancy. Such a guideline would indicate that Person A is more dissatisfied with her body size and shape than Person B, despite equal BMIs and comparable IBS and RBS selections.

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Williamson, D., Womble, L., Zucker, N. et al. Body image assessment for obesity (BIA-O): development of a new procedure. Int J Obes 24, 1326–1332 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801363

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