Gutiérrez Maldonado, JoséFerrer, Marta (Ferrer García)Caqueo-Urízar, AlejandraMoreno, Elena2013-06-272013-06-2720101094-9313https://hdl.handle.net/2445/44466The aim of this article was to study the effect of virtual-reality exposure to situations that are emotionally significant for patients with eating disorders (ED) on the stability of body-image distortion and body-image dissatisfaction. A total of 85 ED patients and 108 non-ED students were randomly exposed to four experimental virtual environments: a kitchen with low-calorie food, a kitchen with high-calorie food, a restaurant with low-calorie food, and a restaurant with high-calorie food. In the interval between the presentation of each situation, body-image distortion and body-image dissatisfaction were assessed. Several 2 x 2 x 2 repeated measures analyses of variance (high-calorie vs. low-calorie food x presence vs. absence of people x ED group vs. control group) showed that ED participants had significantly higher levels of body-image distortion and body dissatisfaction after eating high-calorie food than after eating low-calorie food, while control participants reported a similar body image in all situations. The results suggest that body-image distortion and body-image dissatisfaction show both trait and state features. On the one hand, ED patients show a general predisposition to overestimate their body size and to feel more dissatisfied with their body image than controls. On the other hand, these body-image disturbances fluctuate when participants are exposed to virtual situations that are emotionally relevant for them.12 p.application/pdfeng(c) Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 2010Trastorns de la nutricióAnsietatRealitat virtualEmocionsNutrition disordersAnxietyVirtual realityEmotionsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article5871152013-06-27info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess