Does a visual representation impact the affective response to body composition testing?

This experiment assessed the affective response to body composition testing, with particular interest in the mode of presentation. Participants (n = 109) were randomized to either a control (did not view own DEXA image) or experimental group (viewed own DEXA image). Positive affect negative affect schedules (PANAS) were completed prior to the DEXA scan and following feedback. Data were analyzed through repeated measures ANOVA. An overall main effect of time on positive affect was found, with it decreasing significantly over time. No main effect was found for negative affect. No differences were found due to the image condition or gender. Further analysis found a significant pre-post increase in negative affect for those whose body fat percentage was greater than the desired range. Implications of these findings suggest caution during body composition testing due to affective responses, especially in overweight or obese populations. Potential implications on motivation are discussed.