Body Image Disturbances and Weight Bias After Obesity Surgery: Semantic and Visual Evaluation in a Controlled Study, Findings from the BodyTalk Project

Purpose

Body image has a significant impact on the outcome of obesity surgery. This study aims to perform a semantic evaluation of body shapes in obesity surgery patients and a group of controls.

Materials and Methods

Thirty-four obesity surgery (OS) subjects, stable after weight loss (average 48.03 ± 18.60 kg), and 35 overweight/obese controls (MC), were enrolled in this study. Body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, and body perception were evaluated with self-reported tests, and semantic evaluation of body shapes was performed with three specific tasks constructed with realistic human body stimuli.

Results

The OS showed a more positive body image compared to HC (p < 0.001), higher levels of depression (p < 0.019), and lower self-esteem (p < 0.000). OS patients and HC showed no difference in weight bias, but OS used a higher BMI than HC in the visualization of positive adjectives (p = 0.011). Both groups showed a mental underestimation of their body shapes.

Conclusion

OS patients are more psychologically burdened and have more difficulties in judging their bodies than overweight/obese peers. Their mental body representations seem not to be linked to their own BMI. Our findings provide helpful insight for the design of specific interventions in body image in obese and overweight people, as well as in OS.

Weight bias and linguistic body representation in anorexia nervosa: Findings from the BodyTalk project

OBJECTIVE

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of own body representation and linguistic representation of bodies in general in women with typical and atypical anorexia nervosa (AN).

METHODS

In a series of desktop experiments, participants rated a set of adjectives according to their match with a series of computer generated bodies varying in body mass index, and generated prototypic body shapes for the same set of adjectives. We analysed how body mass index of the bodies was associated with positive or negative valence of the adjectives in the different groups. Further, body image and own body perception were assessed.

RESULTS

In a German-Italian sample comprising 39 women with AN, 20 women with atypical AN and 40 age matched control participants, we observed effects indicative of weight stigmatization, but no significant differences between the groups. Generally, positive adjectives were associated with lean bodies, whereas negative adjectives were associated with obese bodies.

DISCUSSION

Our observations suggest that patients with both typical and atypical AN affectively and visually represent body descriptions not differently from healthy women. We conclude that overvaluation of low body weight and fear of weight gain cannot be explained by generally distorted perception or cognition, but require individual consideration.

The Virtual Caliper: Rapid Creation of Metrically Accurate Avatars from 3D Measurements

Creating metrically accurate avatars is important for many applications such as virtual clothing try-on, ergonomics, medicine, immersive social media, telepresence, and gaming. Creating avatars that precisely represent a particular individual is challenging however, due to the need for expensive 3D scanners, privacy issues with photographs or videos, and difficulty in making accurate tailoring measurements. We overcome these challenges by creating "The Virtual Caliper", which uses VR game controllers to make simple measurements. First, we establish what body measurements users can reliably make on their own body. We find several distance measurements to be good candidates and then verify that these are linearly related to 3D body shape as represented by the SMPL body model. The Virtual Caliper enables novice users to accurately measure themselves and create an avatar with their own body shape. We evaluate the metric accuracy relative to ground truth 3D body scan data, compare the method quantitatively to other avatar creation tools, and perform extensive perceptual studies. We also provide a software application to the community that enables novices to rapidly create avatars in fewer than five minutes. Not only is our approach more rapid than existing methods, it exports a metrically accurate 3D avatar model that is rigged and skinned.

Investigating Body Image Disturbance in Anorexia Nervosa Using Novel Biometric Figure Rating Scales: A Pilot Study

This study uses novel biometric figure rating scales (FRS) spanning body mass index (BMI) 13.8 to 32.2 kg/m² and BMI 18 to 42 kg/m² . The aims of the study were (i) to compare FRS body weight dissatisfaction and perceptual distortion of women with anorexia nervosa (AN) to a community sample; (ii) how FRS parameters are associated with questionnaire body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms and appearance comparison habits; and (iii) whether the weight spectrum of the FRS matters. Women with AN (n = 24) and a community sample of women (n = 104) selected their current and ideal body on the FRS and completed additional questionnaires. Women with AN accurately picked the body that aligned best with their actual weight in both FRS. Controls underestimated their BMI in the FRS 14-32 and were accurate in the FRS 18-42. In both FRS, women with AN desired a body close to their actual BMI and controls desired a thinner body. Our observations suggest that body image disturbance in AN is unlikely to be characterized by a visual perceptual disturbance, but rather by an idealization of underweight in conjunction with high body dissatisfaction. The weight spectrum of FRS can influence the accuracy of BMI estimation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Egocentric biases in comparative volume judgments of rooms

The elongation of a figure or object can induce a perceptual bias regarding its area or volume estimation. This bias is notable in Piagetian experiments in which participants tend to consider elongated cylinders to contain more liquid than shorter cylinders of equal volume. We investigated whether similar perceptual biases could be found in volume judgments of surrounding indoor spaces and whether those judgments were viewpoint dependent. Participants compared a variety of computer-generated rectangular rooms with a square room in a psychophysical task. We found that the elongation bias in figures or objects was also present in volume comparison judgments of indoor spaces. Further, the direction of the bias (larger or smaller) depended on the observer's viewpoint. Similar results were obtained from a monoscopic computer display (Experiment 1) and stereoscopic head-mounted display with head tracking (Experiment 2). We used generalized linear mixed-effect models to model participants' volume judgments using a function of room depth and width. A good fit to the data was found when applying weight on the depth relative to the width, suggesting that participants' judgments were biased by egocentric properties of the space. We discuss how biases in comparative volume judgments of rooms might reflect the use of simplified strategies, such as anchoring on one salient dimension of the space.

The MPI emotional body expressions database for narrative scenarios

Emotion expression in human-human interaction takes place via various types of information, including body motion. Research on the perceptual-cognitive mechanisms underlying the processing of natural emotional body language can benefit greatly from datasets of natural emotional body expressions that facilitate stimulus manipulation and analysis. The existing databases have so far focused on few emotion categories which display predominantly prototypical, exaggerated emotion expressions. Moreover, many of these databases consist of video recordings which limit the ability to manipulate and analyse the physical properties of these stimuli. We present a new database consisting of a large set (over 1400) of natural emotional body expressions typical of monologues. To achieve close-to-natural emotional body expressions, amateur actors were narrating coherent stories while their body movements were recorded with motion capture technology. The resulting 3-dimensional motion data recorded at a high frame rate (120 frames per second) provides fine-grained information about body movements and allows the manipulation of movement on a body joint basis. For each expression it gives the positions and orientations in space of 23 body joints for every frame. We report the results of physical motion properties analysis and of an emotion categorisation study. The reactions of observers from the emotion categorisation study are included in the database. Moreover, we recorded the intended emotion expression for each motion sequence from the actor to allow for investigations regarding the link between intended and perceived emotions. The motion sequences along with the accompanying information are made available in a searchable MPI Emotional Body Expression Database. We hope that this database will enable researchers to study expression and perception of naturally occurring emotional body expressions in greater depth.

Learning strategies in table tennis using inverse reinforcement learning

Learning a complex task such as table tennis is a challenging problem for both robots and humans. Even after acquiring the necessary motor skills, a strategy is needed to choose where and how to return the ball to the opponent's court in order to win the game. The data-driven identification of basic strategies in interactive tasks, such as table tennis, is a largely unexplored problem. In this paper, we suggest a computational model for representing and inferring strategies, based on a Markov decision problem, where the reward function models the goal of the task as well as the strategic information. We show how this reward function can be discovered from demonstrations of table tennis matches using model-free inverse reinforcement learning. The resulting framework allows to identify basic elements on which the selection of striking movements is based. We tested our approach on data collected from players with different playing styles and under different playing conditions. The estimated reward function was able to capture expert-specific strategic information that sufficed to distinguish the expert among players with different skill levels as well as different playing styles.

Pretreatment social functioning predicts 1-year outcome in early onset psychosis

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to investigate the association of pretreatment social functioning (12 months before initial presentation) with symptom dimensions and social functioning at 1-year follow-up.

METHOD

Fifty-six adolescents, age 14-18, first admitted for early onset psychosis, were evaluated at baseline and 1-year follow-up assessing psychopathology (PANSS), social functioning (Strauss and Carpenter Prognostic Scale), and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP).

RESULTS

Adolescents with low pretreatment social functioning were at risk of more severe negative symptoms and lower social functioning at follow-up. Negative symptoms at baseline were less predictive and DUP was not predictive in this sample.

CONCLUSION

Results of this study suggest a strong longitudinal inter-relatedness between social functioning and negative symptoms in this age group. An integrative treatment approach including family interventions, social skills training, long-term specialized work/school rehabilitation, and adequate antipsychotic treatment is warranted to improve both, social functioning and negative symptoms.

Elastically deformable 3D organs for haptic surgical simulation

This paper describes a technique for incorporating real-time elastically deformable 3D organs in haptic surgical simulators. Our system is a physically based particle model utilizing a mass-springs-damper connectivity with an implicit predictor to speed up calculations during each time step. The solution involves repeated application of Newton's 2ndd Law of motion: F = ma using an implicit solver for numerically solving the differential equations.

Cross-cultural issues in research on child mental health

This article describes and discusses the major challenges in cross-cultural research on child mental health. Based on a literature review, the article summarizes limitations of past research in this area. Possible conceptualization and operationalization of culture and approaches to derive cross-culturally equivalent methods are discussed.

Trends in adolescent suicide: misclassification bias?

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated the effect of misclassification of accidental deaths and undetermined deaths on age-, sex-, and race/ethnicity-specific adolescent suicide rates from 1979 through 1994.

METHODS

Official mortality data were used to present suicide mortality trends. Two estimates of misclassified suicides in other death categories were applied to calculate "corrected" trends of adolescent suicide.

RESULTS

The corrected trends showed a downward adjustment for Black adolescent males and young adolescents. This result does not, however, substantially alter the trend toward a recent increase in suicide in these groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite misclassification, the true direction of trends in adolescent suicide is reflected in recent official data. However, suicide rates should continuously be tested for misclassification, mainly in populations with proportionately high accidental and undetermined death rates.

[Initial results with withdrawal treatments of male and female participants in the diversified Janus opiate prescription project in Basel]

Since the beginning of the 'Janus' opiate project in Basel in which severely opiate-dependent persons are treated intravenously with heroin, morphine or methadone 11 from 160 participants (to november 1995) were treated in the withdrawal and intervention unit at the psychiatry clinic of the university of Basel. 7 patients sought a total, 4 a partial withdrawal. Whereas the 4 patients wanting withdrawal from consumption of drugs in addition to study drugs all reached their goal 4 of the 7 persons aiming at total withdrawal interrupted treatment prematurely. The 3 patients who were successful are-as far as the authors know-still off opiates. Substitution of intravenous opiates provided by 'Janus' with oral methadone and slow tapering off of the latter over days to weeks occurred mostly without problems. Participants of the 'Janus' project thus desired a withdrawal oriented treatment with equal frequency and had not less success than persons substituted with oral methadone in achieving this goal.

Cholesterol screening in childhood: results of a 9-year follow-up study in Swiss and Italian children in Switzerland

Mass screening for blood cholesterol as part of routine preventive health care of children continues to be discussed in several countries. Results of longitudinal studies underline the importance of the predictive value of cholesterol levels assessed during childhood. Some countries have changed their recommendations during the past years to blood cholesterol screening for obese children only or for children of high risk families. In the Kindergarten-study Basel, a follow-up study on somatic, psychic and social development of Swiss and immigrant schoolchildren, cardiovascular risk factors were assessed at the ages of 5, 10 and 14 years. The age-specific levels of total and LDL-cholesterol found in our study were slightly higher and HDL-cholesterol lower than, for example, those found in the Bogalusa Heart Study. For total cholesterol no significant tracking correlations over the 5 and 9 year periods were found. Tracking of LDL- and HDL-cholesterol differed between nationalities and sexes. The total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol index tracked slightly better. Italian girls showed the best 9-year tracking for HDL-cholesterol (r = 0.56). The differences between this and other studies can only partially be explained by different sampling and laboratory methods. Individual changes in cholesterol levels between the ages of 5 and 14 were marked. Sexual maturation was found to be of minor influence. Body mass index was the most consistent risk factor in our population. Changes of sex or growth hormone levels during puberty, but also changes of nutritional habits or physical activity might influence the individual cholesterol levels. Before recommendations on mass screening of cholesterol in children are made, the different longitudinal patterns of changes in cholesterol levels, and subpopulation-specific changes of nutritional habits and physical activity, should be discussed. The results of the Kindergarten study Basel suggest that attention should be paid to screening for obesity and to health education regarding nutrition and physical activity.

[Comprehensive medicine from the child and adolescent psychiatry viewpoint]

The development of a child or a adolescent and it's (psycho-)pathological manifestations call often for a multidisciplinary approach. The specialist for child and adolescent psychiatry has in such situations a coordinating and integrating function with direct involvement. His goal is therefore--be it during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures--to guarantee an attunement of biological, medical, psychological, psychiatric, pedagogical and social perspectives, to favor reflective conceptualisation and the cooperation of all the involved persons and institutions.

[Care of adult mentally retarded patients in institutions. Comparative study of homes and cantonal psychiatric clinics in the city and environs of Basle]

Mentally retarded adults frequently live in psychatric hospitals because no other place could be found for them. Analysis of data of all mentally handicapped residents in psychatric clinics and special homes in two swiss cantons showed that in no case permanent hospitalisation was justified by severity of additional handicaps nor by behavioural disturbances. The main reason for permanent hospitalisation is practically always the lack of other possibilities of permanent care.