The figure rating scale is a psychometric

Psychometrics

Psychometrics is the field of study concerned with the theory and technique of psychological measurement, which includes the measurement of knowledge, abilities, attitudes, personality traits, and educational measurement...

 scale developed in the 1950s as a tool to determine body

Body image

Body image refers to a person's perception of the aesthetics and sexual attractiveness of their own body. The phrase body image was first coined by the Austrian neurologist and psychoanalyst Paul Schilder in his masterpiece The Image and Appearance of the Human Body...

 dissatisfaction in women, men, and children. Each figure presents nine silhouettes, ranging from very thin to very large, and the participant is asked to select the one that best indicates his or her current body size and ideal body size (IBS).

Trends in research

Studies of body dissatisfaction have shown that women have a tendency to pick a smaller IBS than current body size. Discrepancies between the two selections indicate body dissatisfaction, which can lead to eating disorders

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Although commonly called "anorexia", that term on its own denotes any symptomatic loss of appetite and is not strictly accurate...

 or depression

Depression (mood)

Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...

.