Body Dysmorphic Disorder Research Paper

Body image and beauty standards have changed drastically over the years. By establishing impossible standards of beauty and bodily perfection, the media drives people tobe dissatisfied with their bodies. This dissatisfaction can result in disorders of behavior as people try to achieve unreachable goals with unhealthy

In a generation filled with entertainment and technology, there are many advertisements that exist. Advertisements, such as clothing advertisements, involve lots of touch ups on the model, making what the world sees, a fake reality of what human body look like. For some of the North American population, these advertisements do not affect them; they will look at the body of the model and not think much of it. But for those who suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder, this will affect them in a completely different way. Body Dysmorphic Disorder is “a body image disorder characterized by persistent and intrusive preoccupations with an imagined or slight defect in one’s appearance” (ADAA, 2014). The impact that advertisements can have on those suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder, can be crucial to their mental health. These individuals will begin to obsess over changing something about themselves that may not even be an imperfection about them. But since a model or someone else looks a certain way and they do not, they will do anything they can to change it, which can be very unhealthy. Those with Body Dysmorphic Disorder will perform different behaviours to attempt at hiding or improving their flaws (ADAA, 2014). Some of those who are suffering may even develop an eating disorder.

Body dysmorphia is a disorder that causes someone to obsess over a small or very insignificant flaw on their body that to others is not a problem. For example, a very healthy teenage girl could look in the mirror and see someone unhealthy and turn to anorexia to change her appearance when in reality she is a normal weight. This can lead to eating disorders (such as anorexia) as well as depression and anxiety. It can affect relationships and social events where eating is involved. According to Dr. David Veale of the Priory Hospital in North London, the definition of BDD is “a mental disorder characterized by preoccupation with an imagined defect in one’s appearance… there may be a minor physical abnormality, but the concern is regarded as grossly excessive” (Veale).

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), formerly known as dysmorphophobia, is characterized by a preoccupation of one or more perceived defects and or flaws in one’s physical appearance. These defects and or flaws are either not observable to others or appear slightly to other’s. This disorder is also characterized by repetitive behaviors and mental acts as a response to their beliefs on their personal appearance. These behaviors can include but are not limited to mirror checking, excessive grooming, skin picking, and comparing ones appearance to others. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM–5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013), those with this disorder have concerns on their physical appearance

Body dysmorphic disorder or BDD is a type pf mental illness in which you can’t stop thinking about a flaw in your appearance. You intensely obsess over your appearance and body image, often for many hours a day. Your perceived flaw causes you significant distress, and your obsession impacts your ability to function in your daily life. You may seek out numerous cosmetic procedures or excessively exercise to try to "fix" your perceived flaw, but you're never satisfied. Body dysmorphic disorder is also known as dysmorphophobia, the fear of having a deformity.

Five million is way too many people that are overly concerned with their weight and their appearance. People with BDD may sit in front of mirror for hours before they feel confident enough to leave their house. BDD makes people lose their social relationships since they do not feel confident enough to approach people.

Dysmorphia is a disorder related to the human body. It is a mental issue or abnormality in which you can’t quit your thinking about one or more perceived defects and flaws of your body. It is an imperfection that, to others, is either minor or not observable. In any case, you may feel so embarrassed and restless that you may avoid many social circumstances.

Teenagers experiencing body dysmorphic disorder tend to make unhealthy decisions, therefore, they need an app that can reduce distress, increase healthy food intake and provide relaxation exercises because that will help them feel more satisfied with their life. Body dysmorphic disorder is a condition of a person that is repeatedly stressed about their appearance flaws. Victims of body dysmorphic disorder are mainly teenagers of this generation, who are overly conscious of their body image, therefore, they may choose to avoid company, take on severe diets and exercise, past their limits. Anything unpleasant or that exert their comfort zone is considered harmful as it will cause the brain to take dangerous decisions, like, commit suicide. To get teenagers to do these things in a comfortable and controllable way, we need an app that could track how much time is spent alone, what nutritious foods are needed and how much exercise should be done.

Body image may be viewed as the way people see themselves and even imagine how they make look based off how they may feel about themselves. Yet it could also be viewed as the way other people see you. Body image, in medicine and psychology refers to a person 's emotional attitudes, beliefs and views of their own body (Positive and Negative Body Image). According to Positive and Negative Body Image, a negative body image develops when a person feels his or her body does not amount up to family, social, or media standards. Many people feel as if they don’t measure up to the belief of others. People who have accepted the way they look often feel good about their image and would be considered to have a positive body image. One’s appearance may not be measure up to how their family expects it to be or how it is perceived to be in the media, but once people learn accept and be proud of the way they look they’ll be better off in the long run. When a person is measured against the standards of the beauty seen frequently in the media and it doesn’t compare to how they feel about themselves it become discouraging. Having said that, long-lasting negative body image can affect both your mental and physical health which could lead to eating disorders down the road.

The International OCD Foundation discovered that about 1 in 50 of the general population suffers from body dysmorphic disorder. Body dysmorphic disorder, or body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition where a person spends too much time worrying the imperfections in their appearance. Anyone can have body dysmorphia, but it is most common in teenagers and young adults.

The article indicates that some of the symptoms of B.D.D include avoidance of social gatherings, and striving to hide the perceived physical flaws with makeups. Endless comparisons of oneself with others, suspecting that others are taking special considerations in the victim in a negative manner are the other symptoms. One recommended treatment method for B.D.D is a visit to a medical expert. Psychiatrists and other mental health experts are efficient in addressing this condition.

In teenagers, BDD will eventually take over their life. Teens are influenced by something called the “buy me, wear me, be me” phenomenon. This message is put out by the stars in Hollywood, as well as all over the world in things like New York Fashion Week, and fashion shows all around the world featuring celebrities that are generally characterized as flawless. Everyone wants the celebrity body that has been photo shopped to look absolutely perfect with nonexistent body fat. This is something that needs particular attention especially when dealing with the puberty years when the body is trying to make your body in to an adult with the voice changes, and the ever so lovely, acne; this is when the teenager’s life can begin to turn upside down. In teenage boys, body image is something that is relatively the same. In boys, the problem is not only that they are not thin enough for the outside world, there is also a problem with not being muscular enough, spawning the disorder off of Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder, or MDD. MDD is a disorder much like BDD; however, it focuses on the muscles only. This disorder makes boys crave the body of the world’s models. This need to look like a bodybuilder is spawned by the media. When certain ads are on television, they make us feel like we could ultimately achieve that same look as they have which in all reality, results like the one’s shown on television are not typical. This feeling makes teenage boys start eating larger portions of food and start lifting more weights that could potentially injure him. Typically, feelings such as this make the boy engage in potentially destructive activities such as engage in performance enhancing drugs. These compounds include anabolic steroids and human growth hormone which can be purchased over the internet illegally” (Knobloch,

This obsession with size is a form of body dysmorphia, a psychological disorder where somebody believes that their physical appearance is defective and needs to be fixed. Similar to someone suffering from anorexia, a synthol user will continue obviously self-destructive behaviour always believing that their body is never good

When people hear cosmetic surgery or plastic surgery, some will automatically visualize images of their favorite celebrities or would only think the cosmetic surgery is for physical appearances. Cosmetic surgeons will help many celebrities to reach a look to meet the “public standards” of beauty. Not only do surgeons help them, they also help another category of people who has a body dysmorphic disorder, or also known as BDD. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an under-recognized disorder that affects a sizeable number of patients who seek cosmetic enhancement, in particular liposuction. Understanding and recognizing BDD can positively impact the care delivered to patients. Basically it makes a person believe that some of the features of their

With the rise of positive body-image campaigning and mental disorders slowly becoming less of a taboo subject, many teenagers are aware of self-esteem, good mental health, and its effects. Almost everyone has had a negative view of themselves at least one point in their lives, so it should be in everyone’s best interests to promote others’ wellbeing, therefore promoting their own; even though great strides have already been made to improve teens’ self-esteem, there are three target areas that could still really use some more help: body image, career support, and recognition and acceptance of LGBT+ teens.