Body image disturbance in eating disorders: A form of cognitive bias?

Abstract

Research on cognitive biases associated with body dysphoria and the eating disorders is reviewed. Evidence for an attentional bias for body- and food-related information has been established in a number of studies. Three experiments have reported a memory bias for “fat” words. Two studies have reported a selective interpretational bias to ambiguous situations describing body size and shape. Body size overestimation is conceptualized as being similar to judgment bias. Extreme preference for thinness is conceptualized as an anchoring bias, which gradually develops into overvalued ideation. It is argued that research on body image could be enhanced by conceptualizing body image disturbances as a form of cognitive bias.