BDD most often develops in adolescents and teens, and research shows that it affects men and women almost equally. In the United States, BDD occurs in about 2.5% in males, and in 2.2 % of females. BDD often begins to occur in adolescents 12-13 years of age (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Patients with BDD believe they look ugly or deformed (thinking, for example, that they have a large and 'repulsive' nose, or severely scarred skin), when in reality they look normal. As a result of their appearance concerns, they may stop working and socializing, become housebound, and even commit suicide (1, 2).
The disorder affects around 1 in 50 Australians, but is difficult to diagnose because people often don't think what they see is a delusion - they believe they're genuinely disproportioned.
The condition is more common in women and usually starts in the teen years. People with BDD often have other mental health conditions, especially eating disorders, depression, and anxiety.
Just about anyone can get Body Dysmorphic Disorder. BDD affects: Both men and women – about 40% of people with BDD are men, and about 60% are women.
BDD appears to be relatively common. Epidemiologic studies have reported a point prevalence of 0.7% to 2.4% in the general population. These studies suggest that BDD is more common than disorders such as schizophrenia or anorexia nervosa.
Body image issues affect people of all ages, genders and across all cultures. Recent research suggests that 80 per cent of Australian women are dissatisfied with their bodies to some degree.
There are two subtypes of BDD: Muscle Dysmorphia and BDD by Proxy.
BDD could be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. A person with low self-esteem who has impossible standards of perfection judges some part of their body as ugly. Over time, this behaviour becomes more and more compulsive. Western society's narrow standards of beauty may trigger BDD in vulnerable people.
Reverse BDD: In many ways, reverse body dysmorphia is the opposite of BDD. Individuals with this condition may believe they are thin while living in a larger body. Therefore, they may routinely buy clothing several sizes too small without trying it on.
Being extremely preoccupied with a perceived flaw in appearance that to others can't be seen or appears minor. Strong belief that you have a defect in your appearance that makes you ugly or deformed. Belief that others take special notice of your appearance in a negative way or mock you.
Those with body dysmorphia have a distorted view of how they look, while those with gender dysphoria suffer no distortion. They have feelings of anxiety and depression, as they truly know who they are on the inside, despite this not fitting with their biological sex.
People with BDD most often are concerned with “defects” on their face and head6. They constantly check their appearance in mirrors, and often scrutinize others people's faces. They tend to focus primarily on details, usually on their face, and are not able to see the “big picture” that overall they look normal.
Researchers have determined that the brains of people with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a psychiatric condition that causes them, wrongly, to believe they appear disfigured and ugly, have abnormalities in processing visual input when it comes to examining their own face.
BDD typically makes its first appearance alongside puberty, with symptoms developing from the age of 12 or 13. BDD affects about 2.5 percent of males and 2.2 percent of females in the U.S.
The cause of body dysmorphic disorder is thought to be a combination of environmental, psychological, and biological factors. Bullying or teasing may create or foster the feelings of inadequacy, shame, and fear of ridicule.
Because the brain combines our past and present experiences, it creates an illusion whereby we appear thinner than we actually are.” The study involved 103 female participants who were shown a set of images of female bodies ranging from underweight, normal-weight to overweight and obese.
BDD can be about any part of your body, and contrary to what some may have assumed (myself included) perceived fat or flab is only one of many types of BDD fixation.
Females: Over 30% of females are personally concerned about their body image. Males: 15.4% saying they are concern but fair more concerned with Physical health. 41.5% of Australian Girls Say they are Concerned with their Body Image.
While body image concerns affect both boys and girls, research suggests that girls are more likely to be dissatisfied with their appearance and their weight than boys (24,25). In our survey, 46% of girls reported that their body image causes them to worry 'often' or 'always' compared to 25% of boys.
Australian young people describe body image as one of their top five personal concerns. It's estimated about 28% of males and 35% of females ages 11-24 years are dissatisfied with their appearance.
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and insecurity are two different things. The former is a commonly misunderstood condition, while the latter is a feeling many people experience from time to time. Insecurity is part of having body dysmorphia, but it's not a clinical diagnosis like it.
With the rise of Ozempic and Ozempic-adjacent drugs, there is a corresponding rise in concerns about body dysmorphic disorder: a condition that's less researched than eating disorders, but of more relevance in the age of alarming weight-loss fads.
She added that many people with BDD are very attractive people, so they have a distorted body image, and the defects that they perceive in their appearance are actually nonexistent or only slight and nothing others would notice.