[2] First recognized by Jourard and Secord, body cathexis is assessed by examining correlations between measures of self-concept or esteem and bodily attitudes.
[5] Recent studies have examined the effects of bodily attitudes on consumer dissatisfaction or satisfaction with fit of apparel, disordered eating, and participation in weight loss programs.
One's perception of their body and the feelings associated with this perceived image greatly influence overall satisfaction with the self and can predict levels of self-esteem.
[2] Likewise, an individual's perception of self-worth is a fluctuating attitude that can rise and fall with changing components of the physical self.
This attitude, coined self-esteem, is an evaluative component of the psychological self that is partially dependent upon one's satisfaction with physical appearance.
[11] Relative to men, women are more strongly invested in their looks and tend to report a more negative overall body image evaluation.
[12] Similarly, social stimuli may play a reciprocal role in anticipating behavior, contributing to the formation of negative feelings about the body.
[12] Along with garment fit satisfaction, research also indicates that body image attitudes and emotions may be correlated with disordered eating behaviors.