3D body scanning technology and virtual reality are providing people an objective view of their bodies, and is becoming a new way to treat body image disorders.
“It’s definitely a detailed body image, but it’s not what we usually see,” said fourth-year dietetics major and President of URI’s Eating Concerns Advisory, Abbey Lanier. “So I think it’s just trying to see your body in different ways and see how that feels versus, you know, the stereotypical, social media, perfect body that we always are surrounded by.”
Jessica Strübel, associate professor of textiles, fashion merchandising and design, started this project after she had her body 3D scanned by a colleague. Strübel has an ongoing research program that involves body image and saw the potential for further study using the 3D scanning technology.
After acquiring a 3D body scanner and virtual reality headsets for a College of Business lab, Strübel saw a new possibility to provide an objective view of people’s bodies.
“With the VR representation, they have the ability to see a life-size version of themselves and literally walk around the body and view it,” Strübel said.
Participants in the study enter a private scanning booth where the equipment is then able to create a high-accuracy scan and process the data it collects in 10 seconds, according to Strübel. Most participants in the survey have been URI students.
“Overwhelmingly, they have found the experience to be positive and interesting,” Strübel said.
Members of URI’s ECA have expressed their support and interest in the study after learning about it, according to Lanier.
“I think that this can be a great thing for people who are more on the body positivity side of things,” Lanier said.
Topics of body image discussion are broken into two categories, body positivity and neutrality, according to Lanier. Those on the body positivity journey want to have a positive and knowledgeable relationship with their bodies whereas those on the neutrality journey appreciate that their body does things for them, rather than being in love with their body.
“This can be great for people who are really into knowing all those details of their body and, you know, want to have a really really great relationship with their body,” Lanier said.
Overall, methods of dealing with body image disorders are individualized, according to Lanier. What works for some may not work for others.
“I think if people are on that positivity route and find that this is something that they think will help, then like, this is awesome,” Lanier said.
