Methods of measuring body image disturbance in eating disorders: a scoping review protocol

Body image disturbance (BID) is a complex construct that includes cognitive-affective, perceptual and behavioural characteristics, influencing how people perceive and feel about their bodies. An accurate assessment of BID is important for identifying and treating eating disorders (EDs), debilitating psychiatric conditions that compromise individuals' well-being, leading to high death rates. Methods used to quantify BID in people with EDs vary widely, making it difficult to establish a gold standard measure. Hence, this scoping review will aim at summarising the literature on the methods to assess BID in people with EDs, providing a clearer overview of the topic.

The scoping review will map and synthesise the BID in individuals with EDs, exploring: (1) Which methods and tools are used to assess BID in individuals with EDs, and are they self-reported or evaluated by clinicians? (2) Which components of BID are assessed? (3) What are the main outcomes measured by these methods and tools? What is their validity, reliability and sensitivity? The population of interest will include individuals of all ages diagnosed with one of the main EDs: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge ED (BED). Hence, the concept of this review will revolve around the methods and tools for measuring BID in EDs focusing on research conducted either in experimental or clinical settings. Records will be screened by two independent reviewers and any discrepancies will be resolved by a third reviewer. Results will be synthesised and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The search is planned to be conducted from November 2025 to September 2026 through multiple databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, PubMed Central and Scopus.

Formal ethical approval is not required for this review. The results will provide a clear overview of the assessment methods for BID in EDs. Findings will be disseminated through publication, and presentations at relevant scientific conferences and sharing with professional networks.