Everyone feels down about how they look from time to time, but a person suffering from body image issues can face an uphill battle when it comes to reclaiming their self-esteem. Body image issues frequently arise in adolescence, usually affecting girls more than boys, but in reality, anyone can suffer from negative body image or body dysmorphia at any age. Read on to learn more about who is more likely to be impacted by this mental health disorder and how to seek help.
A Range of Impacts
Americans have a complicated relationship to their bodies, influenced by media and the fashion industry, (increasingly) social media, and beauty standards established long ago in our culture. How this impacts certain demographics is staggering.
In 2021, YouGov conducted a study, asking a sample of 1,302 people over the age on sixteen about their body image. Their results showed a population struggling with body image and body dysmorphia. They found:
- Just over half of all those polled feel the pressure to attain a certain type of body, while 60% of all women polled reported the same.
- When asked if they believed women experience more pressure than men to have a certain physical appearance, 76% of those polled agreed.
- 76% of those polled also felt that the media was in part responsible for how women feel about their bodies.
Earlier studies have shown that girls often feel more pressure than boys to fit a certain body image. However, boys can also suffer from body dysmorphia, often attempting to attain a lean, muscular frame to adhere to beauty standards.
All of these issues can take a toll on a person’s mental health.
How to Spot Body Dysmorphia and Seek Help
A negative body image can lead to body dysmorphia, a mental health condition that finds a sufferer obsessing over a perceived flaw in their appearance. Someone who suffers from body dysmorphia might avoid social situations out of shame or anxiety, believe themselves to be ugly or deformed, frequently looking in the mirror or grooming, or seeking out cosmetic procedures but feeling dissatisfied with the results. The parts of a person’s body they choose to focus on is different from case to case.
Some of the more extreme risks of body dysmorphia include developing an eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia, or even considering suicide.
When a person finds themselves suffering from this mental health disorder, counseling, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication can make a huge difference for all demographics impacted by negative body image. Getting help is the first step to regaining a positive feeling about yourself and your place in the world.
Contact Bluewater Psychiatry
If you’re suffering from body image issues or body dysmorphia and have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Bluewater Psychiatry. Fill out the form below and get started today!