According to new research released in Eating and Weight Disorders, patients with eating disorders, like anorexia or bulimia nervosa, could be significantly more likely to also suffer from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). The study was conducted by Anglia Ruskin University.
Body dysmorphia is defined by an excessive preoccupation with perceived flaws in one’s physical appearance, more often exhibited in women as opposed to men.
As part of the new study, over 1,500 participants were surveyed online to assess body dysmorphic disorder prevalence rates.
“Cross-sectional study of 1665 health club users recruited online completed a battery of surveys,” the findings explain. “BDD prevalence rates were calculated and logistic regression models were created in two sub-samples: indicated or no-indicated eating disorder symptomology.”
Based on their findings, the team at Anglia Ruskin University was able to determine that patients with body dysmorphic disorder were significantly more likely to also exhibit symptoms of an eating disorder, by as much as 12 times more.
“This study provides more evidence of the complex relationship that exists between BDD and eating disorders,” the co-authors concluded in the study.
“Furthermore, it is recommended that practitioners working with BDD subjects should screen for eating disorders due to the high morbidity associated with eating disorders.”
