Body morph assessment: Preliminary report on the development of a computerized measure of body image

Objective: To develop a prototype of the Body Morph Assessment (BMA), and to test the reliability and validity of this new measure of body image. The BMA is a realistic and relatively simple procedure that uses computer morphing for the assessment of body image. For the purposes of this preliminary study, a prototype of the BMA was developed for usage with white women ranging from very thin to obese. Research Methods and Procedures: A total of 72 subjects participated in tests of reliability, content, and convergent validity of the BMA. Results: The reliability and validity of the BMA was supported by the results of this study. In a test of convergent validity, the measures of current, ideal, and reasonable body size were positively correlated with their equivalents from a similar body image assessment procedure. In addition, reliability coefficients were found to be satisfactory for all variables. Participants found the human figural stimuli to be realistic. Discussion: These preliminary findings support the reliability and validity of the BMA with white women. Given these positive findings, we plan to extend the procedure to males and to other racial and ethnic groups.