Body Image Types

Body Dysmorphic Disorder, or BDD, is one of the most well-known body image disorders. Individuals with BDD experience an intense preoccupation with one or more perceived flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often minor or even unnoticeable to others, yet they cause significant distress for the individual and can interfere with daily functioning. Common areas of concern include the skin, hair, nose, or body shape.

People living with BDD may spend excessive time checking mirrors, grooming, seeking reassurance, or comparing themselves to others. In some cases, they may avoid social situations altogether due to feelings of embarrassment or shame. Over time, this preoccupation can contribute to anxiety, depression, or even lead to repeated cosmetic procedures in an attempt to “fix” perceived imperfections.

It is important to recognize that BDD is not about vanity—it is a serious mental health condition rooted in distorted self-perception and often requires professional support. Therapy can help individuals challenge unhelpful thought patterns and begin to see themselves in a more realistic and compassionate way.

Muscle Dysmorphia, sometimes referred to as “bigorexia,” is a subtype of Body Dysmorphic Disorder that primarily affects men, although women can experience it as well. Individuals with muscle dysmorphia are preoccupied with the belief that they are not muscular enough, even when they may have a well-developed or athletic physique.

This disorder often leads to compulsive exercise, rigid dieting, and the use of supplements or anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass. While regular exercise and nutrition are healthy pursuits, the behavior associated with muscle dysmorphia becomes extreme and distressing. Individuals may spend excessive time at the gym, avoid social events that interfere with workouts, or feel anxious if they miss an exercise session.

Muscle dysmorphia reflects a broader societal issue—the pressure to conform to unrealistic ideals of physical strength and body size. Professional treatment helps individuals separate healthy fitness goals from harmful perfectionism and develop a balanced, body-positive relationship with exercise and self-image.

While not always classified as a separate disorder, body image disturbance is a defining feature of many eating disorders, including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder. Individuals may perceive themselves as overweight even when they are underweight, or they may focus on perceived flaws in specific body parts. This distorted perception can fuel disordered behaviors such as restriction, purging, or binge eating as a means of coping with distressing emotions related to body dissatisfaction.

In Anorexia Nervosa, for example, the individual’s sense of self-worth may be heavily tied to body size or weight, leading to extreme dieting or avoidance of food. In Bulimia Nervosa, the cycle of bingeing and purging may be driven by guilt and shame over body image concerns. Even in Binge Eating Disorder, body dissatisfaction often plays a role in the emotional triggers that lead to episodes of overeating.

Addressing body image distortion is therefore an essential component of eating disorder treatment. Recovery involves not only restoring healthy eating patterns but also healing the emotional relationship a person has with their body.

Body Integrity Dysphoria (BID) is a rare but complex condition in which an individual experiences a persistent desire to amputate a healthy limb or alter their body in some way to align with their internal sense of how their body “should” be. Though uncommon, this disorder highlights the powerful role that self-perception plays in mental health. People with BID may describe feeling that a certain part of their body does not belong to them, leading to significant distress.

Because BID involves both psychological and neurological components, treatment is highly specialized and may include psychotherapy aimed at understanding the emotional roots of the disorder and finding alternative ways to manage distress.

While Gender Dysphoria is not a body image disorder in the traditional sense, it often involves profound discomfort with one’s physical body and the way it aligns with gender identity. People experiencing gender dysphoria may feel distress or anxiety related to secondary sex characteristics, body shape, or facial features. These feelings can significantly impact self-esteem, mental health, and quality of life.

Support for individuals with gender dysphoria involves understanding, affirmation, and often gender-affirming care. For therapists, this may include helping clients navigate body-related distress while fostering a sense of self-acceptance and authenticity.