Matilda Black

University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

Biological Correlates of Body Image Dissatisfaction

---

Biography

Matilda Black a fourth-year medical student at the University of Cambridge, where I also completed an intercalated BA in Natural Sciences. In addition, she undertook a year-long research programme at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. During her intercalation she worked with Dr Margaret Westwater, a cognitive neuroscientist. Our research combined cognitive neuroscience and pathophysiology to explore shared mechanisms between eating disorders and gastrointestinal disorders. These experiences have shaped my interest in the intersection of physical and mental health and strengthened my commitment to an interdisciplinary approach to medicine that integrates biological, psychological, and social dimensions of patient care.

Abstract

Biological Correlates of Body Image Dissatisfaction

Body image dissatisfaction is a multidimensional construct that refers to negative feelings regarding one’s body shape or weight. It is a significant risk factor for eating and mood disorders and is increasingly associated with physiological dysregulation. While traditionally considered via a psychosocial lens, there is a growing awareness of associated biological mechanisms underlying body image dissatisfaction.

This review synthesises the biological correlates of body image dissatisfaction across neurological, hormonal, and cognitive domains.

A structured literature search was conducted using a search terms like “body dissatisfaction”, “body image,” and “drive for thinness” in MedLine via OVID. Studies were selected only if the population was non-clinical pre-menopausal females. Sixteen articles met the inclusion criteria.

The literature has identified consistent involvement of neural structures associated with visual self-perception, emotional salience, and cognitive control. The extrastriate body, anterior cingulate cortex, and prefrontal regions show activation patterns that correlate body image dissatisfaction. Hormonal profiles in individuals with high drive for thinness reflect energy deficiency, including reduced triiodothyronine, leptin, and elevated ghrelin and protein YY. Cognitive strategies including restraint, self-criticism, and notably impaired interoceptive awareness contribute to body image dissatisfaction and themselves show associated physiological bases.

Body image dissatisfaction encompasses psychological perturbations but also shows measurable physiological consequences. Understanding the neural, hormonal, and cognitive signatures of body image dissatisfaction might aid early detection and intervention, with application to both subclinical and clinical populations. Future research should include longitudinal and multi-modal designs that help ascertain the interaction between psychological and physiological factors in body image.