Eating disorders among women could be identified at an early stage by making them undergo a self portrait evaluation, a new study published in the journal, Arts in Psychotherapy suggests.
A group of Israeli researchers conducted the study on a total of 76 women, 36 of whom were suffering from some form of eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Half of the women were overweight while the other half were of normal weight.
A group of Israeli researchers conducted the study on a total of 76 women, 36 of whom were suffering from some form of eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Half of the women were overweight while the other half were of normal weight.
On being asked to draw a picture of themselves, the researchers found that those women who suffered from eating disorders drew pictures that had a larger neck, disconnected neck or no neck. The women also put more emphasis on the mouth while thighs too were wider.
"Women suffering from eating disorders usually tend to hide their condition, even from their professional therapists. They often find it difficult to talk about their problems, so a non-verbal and non-intrusive tool such as a simple request for a self-figure drawing can become an important tool in creative art therapy", she said.
Source: Medindia
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