Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Persistent, distressing preoccupation with perceived flaws in appearance that others often don’t notice or consider minor.
What it is
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) involves a persistent, distressing preoccupation with one or more perceived flaws in appearance — flaws that are often minor or not noticeable to other people at all. BDD is classified as an obsessive-compulsive-spectrum condition, not an eating disorder, but it’s included here because of how closely it can overlap with body image concerns seen across eating disorders, and because the two can co-occur.Signs & symptoms
Behavioral
- Repeated mirror-checking, or the opposite — avoiding mirrors entirely
- Excessive grooming or reassurance-seeking about appearance
- Camouflaging the perceived flaw (makeup, clothing, posture)
- Comparing one’s appearance to other people frequently
Emotional
- Intrusive, hard-to-dismiss thoughts about the perceived flaw
- Significant shame or distress tied to appearance
- Avoidance of social situations because of how one looks
Causes & risk factors
BDD is understood as part of the OCD spectrum. It can occur on its own or alongside an eating disorder, and the two share some underlying features (distorted self-perception, anxiety, need for control) without being the same condition.Treatment
Because BDD is OCD-spectrum rather than an eating disorder, its most evidence-based treatment (exposure and response prevention, or ERP) differs somewhat from eating-disorder-specific approaches, even when the two co-occur and are treated together. See our full guide to levels of care for how combined treatment is typically structured.Myths vs. facts
Myth: BDD is just vanity or low self-esteem. BDD involves intrusive, hard-to-dismiss preoccupation that functions more like an obsessive-compulsive pattern than ordinary insecurity — it’s classified on the OCD spectrum for exactly this reason.
Myth: BDD is the same thing as an eating disorder. They can co-occur and share some features (distorted self-perception, anxiety, need for control), but BDD is a distinct OCD-spectrum condition, not a type of eating disorder, and the focus can be on any body part — not just weight or shape.
Myth: Cosmetic procedures resolve BDD. Because the preoccupation is rooted in a distorted perception rather than an objectively noticeable flaw, cosmetic changes frequently don’t relieve the distress and can sometimes shift the fixation to a new perceived flaw.
What treatment actually looks like
Exposure and response prevention (ERP) — the same evidence-based approach used for OCD — is generally considered the most effective treatment for BDD. It typically involves gradually facing the situations or exposures a person has been avoiding (mirrors, photos, social settings) while resisting the checking or reassurance-seeking behaviors that usually follow. When BDD co-occurs with an eating disorder, treatment is often coordinated between providers who specialize in each, since the exposure techniques for BDD differ somewhat from typical eating-disorder-specific therapy.
When to seek help
Persistent distress about appearance that’s affecting daily functioning is worth a professional evaluation, whether or not it’s tied to an eating disorder.Frequently asked questions
Is BDD considered an eating disorder?
No — it’s classified as an obsessive-compulsive-spectrum condition. It’s covered in this guide because of how often it overlaps with body image concerns and co-occurs with eating disorders, not because it’s diagnosed as one.
Can BDD focus on something other than weight or shape?
Yes — BDD commonly focuses on skin, hair, nose, or other specific features unrelated to body weight, which is one way clinicians distinguish it from eating-disorder-related body image concerns.