Understanding body dysmorphia, a condition that impacts even celebrities

In a recent podcast interview, actor Megan Fox opened up about struggling with body dysmorphia since she was five-years-old. According to Jashan Vij, a certified health and fat loss coach, “Recent statistics estimate around 2-2.5% of people may experience this condition.” Citing Kendall Jenner and Jameela Jamil's battles with BDD, Vij says, “While some have faced issues like obsessive self-criticism and excessive grooming, some face the typical issues of wanting to look like some celebrity. In the bargain, they set unrealistic benchmarks for themselves.” Symptoms and Causes You might have BDD if you find yourself obsessing over one or more perceived flaws in your appearance or develop compulsive behaviours such as excessive use of mirrors or not looking at it at all, hiding your flaws with excessive makeup or wearing certain types of clothing to disguise the shape. For instance, there could be imbalances in certain brain chemicals, like serotonin and dopamine, that might contribute to obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours associated with BDD. It also teaches coping mechanisms to manage obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours related to appearance, like mirror checking or reassurance seeking.