Female body dissatisfaction after exposure to overweight and thin media images: The role of body mass index and neuroticism

Exposure to thin media images is thought to play a significant role in the development of body image dissatisfaction (BID) amongst females. In this study we examined whether individual differences in body mass index (BMI) and neuroticism can make females more vulnerable to BID upon exposure to overweight media images than thin media images. Female volunteers were randomly assigned to thin or overweight exposure conditions. Before exposure all gave height and weight data and completed a 12-item neuroticism (N) questionnaire. While exposure to thin media images was associated with greater BID, in the overweight exposure condition there was an interaction between BMI and N so that with increasing BMI those higher in N experienced greater BID. Female BID may not, therefore, be solely restricted to exposure to thin media images. The implications for future research, as well as BID prevention programmes, are discussed.