Satisfaction with dento-facial appearance in the eating disorders

This study aimed to determine if satisfaction with dento-facial appearance is related to body image distortion and estimation in subjects with an eating disorder. Body Image Distortion, both perceived and desired, was measured with the Anamorphic Micro body image assessment software. The Body Satisfaction Scale and the Eastman Esthetic Index were used to determine satisfaction or otherwise with appearance. A convenience sample of fifteen subjects participated of whom nine were diagnosed with bulimia nervosa, two with binge eating disorder and four with eating disorder not otherwise specified. The group overestimated their body image by a mean of 28% and desired to be a mean 25% thinner. Of the 16 anatomical areas assessed on the Body Satisfaction Scale, the face was the only area associated with the over-estimate of body image (Spearman's rho = +0.52, p < 0.05). The teeth were not associated with body image.