Study: Body Image Disorder May Be More Impairing

Jan. 26 (iVillage Total Health) -- If you are overly preoccupied with the way your body looks and your weight, you may have more serious problems coping with a body image disorder than people who are concerned about other aspects of their appearance.

That is the finding of a newly released study on body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), an excessive preoccupation with real or imagined defects in your personal appearance, such as your skin, teeth, hair, stomach or weight. Even though friends and family members may reassure them that they look normal, people with BDD may not believe it and, as a result, may be more likely to develop depression or contemplate suicide.

Researchers from Brown Medical School in Providence studied 200 people ages 14 to 64. They compared subjects who indicated they were concerned about their weight to those who had other body image concerns. The people preoccupied with their weight (29 percent of those surveyed) had difficulty functioning in social settings, were more likely to attempt suicide and had more overall body image concerns than the other people surveyed, according to the study.

Researchers also noted that people with more disabling BDD concerns were often young females. These individuals were more likely to view their stomachs and abdominal fat as a major area of concern. They were more likely to diet, exercise and adopt different styles of dressing to improve the way they look.

"This is important because although we know that it is a serious and disabling condition, in many ways BDD remains poorly understood," said Jennifer Kittler, Ph. D., the study's lead author. The researchers noted that the study points out the necessity to correctly diagnose and treat patients with BDD, which may be confused with an eating disorder.

Kittler added: "The presence of weight-related concerns and preoccupations among individuals with BDD may actually be associated with even higher levels of distress and impairment."

The study was published in the January issue of the journal Eating Behaviors.