An investigation of feature integration in body size judgements and its relationship to eating disorder symptomatology

Disturbances in body size judgements for individuals with eating disorders have been attributed to perceptual integration difficulties. This thesis first investigates which features are perceptually integrated into body size representations. Using an immersive virtual reality environment, I identify multiple visual features that are incorporated when judging body size. Taking a candidate feature, I then test theoretical predictions that those with elevated eating disorder symptomatology should exhibit reduced integration, instead finding equivalent integration across the symptomatology continuum. Collectively, this thesis contributes to understanding body size perception, reinforces the research utility of virtual reality, and provides context to theories of integration difficulties.