Body Image Dysphoria In Obese Women

Body dysphoria, most often referred to as body dysmorphic disorder -- or BDD -- is a debilitating preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in appearance that impairs social, occupational or other aspects of life. Psychiatric Clinics of North America reports that a subset of women experience body image dissatisfaction that is deemed psychologically impairing. BDD or not, the prevalence of body dissatisfaction among Westerners is due in large part to media portrayal of thin women as the beauty standard. A Vanderbilt University article on the “Impact of Media Idealized Body Image on Eating Disorders in Females” notes that this leaves many women -- with the obese as no exception -- feeling unhappy with their bodies. See a mental health professional if you feel anxious, depressed or extremely unhappy with your body.

Body Issues in Women

In a 1996 “Psychology Today” survey, 56 percent of women reported being unhappy with their physiques, and two thirds of the women were discontent with their appearance as a whole. Psychiatric Clinics of North America notes that more women than men are dissatisfied with their looks, but African American women are less concerned with body image than Caucasian women. According to the clinics, studies have found a correlation between increased body image dissatisfaction, increased depression and decreased self-esteem.

Obese Women

Obese women reportedly have greater body image issues than non-obese women. In the “Psychology Today” survey, obese women -- more than non-obese women -- admitted to covering their bodies, changing their posture and avoiding looking at their bodies to keep from becoming upset about their appearances. They also reported experiencing embarrassment in social situations due to their weight. According to “Psychology Today,” 8 percent of obese women reported body image dissatisfaction on the level of body dysmorphic disorder. An obese woman's past experiences to a large degree affect her perception of herself. Psychiatric Clinics of North America report those who became obese during childhood, and were teased as a result, experience more body dissatisfaction than others. Those who binge, feel stigmatized by their size or lose and gain weight cyclically are also unhappy with their bodies.

Dissatisfaction vs. BDD

Many people would like to change something about their appearance, but that is not necessarily indicative of body dysmorphic disorder. However, preoccupation with a perceived flaw is another matter. J. Kevin Thompson, Ph.D., co-author of “Exacting Beauty: Theory, Assessment and Treatment of Body Image Disturbance,” says a key indicator of BDD is the accuracy of a person's body image perception: Is what you see what others see? A person with BDD will overestimate their size, have feelings of extreme disdain for their appearance and avoid social situations. BDD also causes anxiety and depression. A person with BDD might go to extreme lengths to alter her image or to cover her perceived flaw with clothing or makeup.

Body Image and the Media

The Vanderbilt University article reports that a 1999 study exposed 548 suburban American girls from fifth to 12th grade to fashion magazines. Sixty-nine percent of the girls were reportedly influenced by the “ideal” body image depicted in the photos, and 47 percent said they wanted to lose weight. Another study in 2007 involving 133 women revealed that after exposure to photos of thin female models, the test subjects became angry, depressed and anxious -- common symptoms of body dissatisfaction. The Vanderbilt article reports that the women wanted to become ultra thin and showed multiple symptoms of eating disorders. The conclusion of these and other studies cited by Vanderbilt is that women's perception of the perfect body type can be manipulated by the media.