Body Types Chart (Page 4 of 4) in pdf

Body Types Chart Page 4

The BIG

The bodybuilder image grid was designed to measure the perceptual body image disturbance in

males and perceived attractiveness of the male body to both men and women. The figures used

in the BIG vary along dimensions of muscularity and body fat. Directions for males instruct

individuals to make four choices: (a) the figure they think best represents their current body

type, (b) the figure they think best represents their ideal body type, (c) the body type that is most

attractive, and (d) the body type that is most attractive to the opposite sex. The scale is intended

to be used for males with any sexual preference; by asking for ratings of most attractive and

most attractive to the opposite sex, individuals make ratings of attractiveness independent of

their sexual preference. The BIG-O grid has two scales analogous to the measurement of

longitude (body fat columns) and latitude (muscle mass rows). The top left figure represents the

column with the least body fat, and row with the least muscle mass. From left to right the

columns increase in body fat from 1: “extremely low body fat” to 6: “extremely high body fat”.

From top to bottom the figures increase in muscle mass from 1: “extremely low muscle mass to

5: “extremely high muscle mass”. To measure perceptual disturbance, a discrepancy index is

calculated for body fat (current fat−ideal fat=desired fat) and muscle mass (ideal muscle−current

muscle=desired muscle) by subtracting the corresponding column and row scores.

Body Types Chart Page 4