People who haveanorexia nervosaorbulimia nervosaare concerned about their body shape, size and/or weight, of course, but there’s another body image problem with which many people also struggle:body dysmorphic disorder.

Body dysmorphic disorder, which affects up to 2.4% of the general population, causes people to become overly concerned with outward appearance and perceived flaws. It may be seen in people witheating disorders, but is a distinctly different issue.

Symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

People who have body dysmorphic disorder are preoccupied or obsessed with one or more perceived flaws in their appearance. This preoccupation or obsession typically focuses on one or more body areas or features, such as their skin, hair, or nose. However, any body area or part can be the subject of concern.

TheDiagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition(DSM-5) outlines the criteria for a diagnosis of body dysmorphic disorder.BDD is not classified as an eating disorder in the DSM-5. Instead, it is listed under the category of “Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders.” The DSM-5 lists the following diagnostic criteria:

Muscle dysmorphiaor a preoccupation with the idea that your muscles are too small is considered a subtype of body dysmorphic disorder.

The Relationship to Eating Disorders

BDD shares some common features with eating disorders, but there are also important distinctions between them. Some similarities include:

Researchers have estimated that as many as 12% of people with body dysmorphic disorder also have anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.

However, it is important to note that not everyone with body dysmorphic disorder has an eating disorder. There are people with body dysmorphic disorder who focus solely on specific body parts (like the shape of their nose). That’s different than focusing on weight.

Treatment Options

The good news is that body dysmorphic disorder can be successfully treated. The most effective treatment option involves a combination of a type of psychotherapy known ascognitive behavioral therapyalong with medications, including antidepressants.

Any time there are multiple diagnoses involved (as is true in anyone who has both body dysmorphic disorder and an eating disorder), it can complicate treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also used in the treatment of eating disorders.

If you have both conditions, you’ll want to make sure your therapist is familiar with both and can create a customized treatment plan for you.

You may also be interested in pursuing treatment with medication through your psychiatrist. It is important to remember that you may need to try different medications or dosages before you find the right fit for you. Always follow your doctor’s recommendations regarding medication and don’t hesitate to ask any questions you may have about them.

It is important to note that many people with body dysmorphic disorder pursue surgical treatment options such as plastic surgery or hair implants in order to “fix” their perceived flaws. There is no evidence that this is helpful in the treatment of the condition, and may actually make it worse.

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Bjornsson AS, Didie ER, Phillips KA.Body dysmorphic disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2010;12(2):221-32.Phillips K. International OCD Foundation. Diagnosing BDD.Mufaddel A, Osman O, Almugaddam F, Jafferany M.A review of body dysmorphic disorder and its presentation in different clinical settings.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2013;15(4), doi:10.4088%2FPCC.12r01464

Bjornsson AS, Didie ER, Phillips KA.Body dysmorphic disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2010;12(2):221-32.

Phillips K. International OCD Foundation. Diagnosing BDD.

Mufaddel A, Osman O, Almugaddam F, Jafferany M.A review of body dysmorphic disorder and its presentation in different clinical settings.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2013;15(4), doi:10.4088%2FPCC.12r01464

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?