ABSTRACT

Poor body image has been linked with eating disorders and is included as one of the diagnostic criteria for eating disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Therefore, how accurately a person perceives his or her own body is important in identifying those at risk of eating disorders. Females are more dissatisfied with their body and have a greater desire to be thinner than males. The incidence of eating disorders is also higher in females than in males (Craig and Caterson, 1990, Paxton et al., 1991, Brenner and Cunningham, 1992). As a result, much of the research to date has focused on females. There is however, evidence that the incidence of eating disorders is increasing in males (Olivardia et al., 1995, Braun et al., 1999). Studies have indicated that young males are not satisfied with their physique. Unlike females, males either wish to lose weight or they want to be more muscular (Drewnowski and Yee, 1987, Paxton et al., 1991).