Megan Fox spoke in a recent interview about her struggles with body image and the challenges of living under the microscope of Hollywood.
“I have body dysmorphia. I don’t ever see myself the way other people see me. There’s never a point in my life where I loved my body,” Fox, 37, said in a video interview for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2023 issue. The actress has spoken about having body dysmorphia and other mental health issues in the past.
People with severe body dysmorphia disorder can become reclusive, struggle in relationships and suffer from other mental health issues, experts say.
We spoke to experts about body dysmorphia, including how to know if you have it and potential treatment options and risks. Here’s what they said.
What is body dysmorphia, also known as body dysmorphic disorder?
Return to menuBody dysmorphic disorder, or BDD, is a mental health condition. It’s defined as an obsession with a perceived flaw in physical appearance — one that is usually imperceptible to others.
BDD, which shares similarities with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), can cause severe distress to those who struggle with it. One form, known as muscle dysmorphia, more often affects men.
The disorder can harm people’s mental health and self-esteem. Many with body dysmorphia also struggle with anxiety, depression and even suicidal ideation.
Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles, said it is important to note that body dysmorphia is not the same thing as an eating disorder, which is a preoccupation specifically with body shape and weight and typically leads to eating, exercising and other compensatory behaviors.
Also, the preoccupation is not because of a noticeable deformity or malformation such as a large scar. “It’s the idea that this perceived defect is usually quite minor compared to the amount of distress and preoccupation it’s causing,” Durvasula said.
What causes body dysmorphia? Who is at risk?
Return to menuThere isn’t one specific cause of BDD, which affects about 1 in 50 people in the United States, and affects men and women roughly equally,according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
Experts say the disorder typically presents in adolescence, a particularly tough time for young people because of all the changes in their physical appearance.
In some cases, there may be a genetic predisposition to BDD or OCD, said Ann Kearney-Cooke, a psychologist in Cincinnati who specializes in treating body image and eating disorders.
Other times, she said, the disorder may be triggered by a negative childhood experience such as abuse, neglect or bullying that made the person overly sensitive to perceived flaws in their appearance.
Culture can play a role. And perfectionism can intensify the obsessions, Kearney-Cooke said.
“It really doesn’t get better on its own and, when not treated, can actually get worse over time,” she said.