Me, Myself and My Body –The Full-Body Illusion and the Effects of an Extreme Virtual Body Size

Abstract

Even though the average body weight has increased dramatically over the last four decades, the thin ideal dominates Western society. Looking at pictures of thin and obese bodies have previously been shown to affect food choices and body satisfaction. This study used a virtual reality full-body illusion to induce ownership over an either anorexic or obese virtual body, and measured body satisfaction and food choices before and after the manipulation. The sample consisted of 54 females with a normal body size, without any eating disorders. Neither the anorexic nor the obese body did significantly influence food choices. Participants in the anorexic condition showed a marginally significant increase in body satisfaction after the illusion, but no such effect was found for the obese condition. Participants were significantly more satisfied with the anorexic than the obese body. Furthermore, similarity between the real and virtual body did not affect illusion strength. These results indicate that the relationship between body size, food choices and body satisfaction is possibly more complex than previously thought. Keywords: full-body illusion, embodiment, body size, food choices, body satisfaction, anorexia, obesity