Assessment of body image distortion in eating and weight disorders: the validation of a computer-based tool (Q-BID).

Quantification of Body Image Distortion (Q-BID) is a computerized tool developed to quantify body image distortion in eating and weight disorders. This paper presents information on the psychometric properties of this computerized tool. Three samples of adolescents were recruited and completed the Q-BID, paper and pencil questionnaires and anthropometric measurements, namely a group of hospitalized anorectic patients (n=18), girls following outpatient treatment (n=22) for restrictive anorexia nervosa, and control group of 200 teenager girls. Analyses showed that Q-BID is a valid and reliable tool in that test-retest reliability was high and Q-BID accurately discriminates between hospitalized anorexics and control non-anorexic girls. Also, Q-BID contributes to the multivariate classification of subjects into the 3 sampled groups. The possible uses of this tool for clinical and public health research are discussed as are future research directions.