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Using hip measurements as a constant, calculations were made to determine the changes necessary for a young, healthy adult woman and man to attain the same body proportions as Barbie and Ken dolls, respectively. Among the changes necessary were for the female to increase 24 in. in height, 5 in. in the chest, and 3.2 in. in the neck length, while decreasing 6 in. in the waist, and for the male to increase 20 in. in height, 11 in. in the chest, and 7.9 in. in the neck circumference. Like adults, children are exposed to highly unrealistic ideals for shape and weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate various psychological constructs used in formulations of anorexia and bulimia nervosa, we compared 76 eating-disordered, 20 psychiatric, and 24 normal women on measures of irrational cognitions, object-relations disturbances, and defense style. The eating-disordered group exhibited more disturbance on all measures than normals and many pathological elevations relative to psychiatric controls. Despite these differences, common qualitative features were identified in all patient groups, suggesting that formulations based on the factors examined alone, while useful in providing an understanding of patients' issues, will be inadequate to account for eating-disorder development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifty-eight women with anorexia or bulimia nervosa were compared with 24 normal women on measures of defense style and parental bonding. Results indicated that all eating-disorder subtypes exhibit more primitive defenses and fewer mature ones than controls. Eating-disorder patients uniformly recalled /ess paternal em pa- thy than controls. Thus, difficulties involving object representations of fathers may be a theme common to eating disorders. No major differences were identified among eating-disorder subtypes, suggesting that these disorders share substantial psychodynamic features. Patterns of parental bonding were associated with defense styles in a manner consistent with theories that link defense style development to early object relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]