Ohio State study links self-oriented body comparison to eating disorders

A new study from The Ohio State University suggests that individuals are often their own worst critics by comparing their current bodies to past versions of themselves. While research has traditionally focused on how social comparison to others affects well-being, this study, published in the journal Body Image, highlights the harmful impact of self-oriented comparison.

Lead author Tracy Tylka, a professor of clinical psychology, noted that self-oriented comparison is uniquely associated with negative body image and disordered eating behaviors. The researchers developed and validated a new measurement scale to track this phenomenon. The findings may influence clinical psychological treatments, encouraging practitioners to address how clients adjust to appearance-related changes, such as aging, by looking at their own history rather than just societal standards.