5 myths about Body Dysmorphic Disorder

While the two does share a common dissatisfacion about one's body or appearance, these perceptions don't necessarily have the same outcome or focus.

Eating disorder concerns evolves around the ingestion of food and weight concerns, while BDD can be focused on a perceived flaw that isn't related to weight or food consumption.

Vanity is defined as extreme self-pride or admiration. People with BDD are so self-critical about their perceived physical flaws, they are very much convinced that everyone else also sees their flaw and is as focused on it as they are. This causes a extreme emotional distress and self-consciousness, which is a huge barrier to quality of life. Thus, vanity and BDD are, in fact, two opposite ends of the spectrum.

BDD can exist in any age range, including elderly populations. It's just that for this older group of adults, BDD might morph into different areas. The ageing process can be triggering for additional self-criticism, leading to their avoidance of raising such concerns to their medical provider for fear of being seen as vain or irrational.

BDD can have significant impacts on a person's life, the severity of the condition dependent on the individual circumstances of the person with BDD.

The impact of BDD on self-esteem can result in severe depression and anxiety. The significant level of self-consciousness can also result in avoidance of others and social isolation. BDD can also result in suicidal ideation for some, especially those who experience the condition before 18.

Conversely, surgical procedures could result in an ongoing and sometimes worsening perception of flaws, where people with BDD could end up focusing on other aspects of their appearance. Given that BDD is a condition of negative self-evaluation and misperceptions about one’s appearance, it is not something that surgery can repair.