Do I Have Body Dysmorphia? Online Quiz

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), or body dysmorphia, is a dangerous mental health condition that can contribute to numerous mental, physical, and emotional health concerns.

If you’re concerned that you have BDD, a body dysmorphia test can help indicate whether or where there may be issues. While these tests are not meant to replace a medical diagnosis, they can be a first step toward understanding certain unhelpful thoughts or behaviors and finding appropriate treatment.

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    How Accurate is a Body Dysmorphia Quiz?

    A body dysmorphia quiz may be able to point out certain unhelpful patterns or draw attention to symptoms you experience that mirror those associated with body dysmorphic disorder. However, these quizzes are built to be broad, and answers are self-reported, which could lead to less accurate results.

    Even if you take a “Do I have body dysmorphia quiz,” and your result says you show signs of BDD, it’s not intended to replace the diagnosis of a medical professional. Such results may highlight certain symptoms or issues that may be or become problematic, but you should follow up with a medical professional.

    The only way to truly know if you have body dysmorphic disorder is to consult a healthcare provider, such as a psychiatrist, therapist, or another licensed mental health professional. If results indicate that you may be struggling with BDD, these professionals can help point you in the direction of programs or other treatment options that can help.

    Do You Have Body Dysmorphic Disorder? Take This Online Quiz

    Take this quiz to help you decide whether or not you need to seek professional advice or treatment for body dysmorphic disorder.

    NOTE: This quiz is for general informational purposes only and does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical advice. The quiz is not an attempt to practice medicine and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, talk to your healthcare provider and follow their advice regardless of any result you have obtained on this quiz. The quiz does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.

    Eating Disorder Hope makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the quiz and expressly disclaims any liability in connection therewith.

    I often feel self-conscious about the way I look

    I check my appearance regularly in the mirror or on reflective surfaces

    When I look in the mirror, I see my “flaws”

    I try to avoid public and social situations because I feel self-conscious

    I feel distressed or depressed when I think about my “flaws”

    I would like to change my appearance

    I have tried different things to disguise or cover up my “flaws,” such as excessive dieting

    I find it hard to concentrate on things because I’m thinking about my appearance

    I often feel unattractive

    I feel like my appearance affects my everyday life and relationships

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    Body Dysmorphia

    What is Body Dysmorphia?

    Body dysmorphia is technically a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder, though it’s often related to eating disorders and eating disorder behaviors.

    The condition revolves around a preoccupation with one or more perceived physical “flaws,” which look either minor or possibly even nonexistent to others. In response to these concerns (obsessive thoughts), someone with BDD will participate in certain compulsive behaviors, such as repetitively checking themselves in the mirror, excessively grooming, or picking at themselves.1

    The perceived “flaw” is often—though it doesn’t have to be—related to body weight, shape, or size, but it is always related to physical appearance. While many people have certain hang-ups about their appearance, those with BDD fixate on these perceived flaws to the point where they become disruptive to their daily lives.1 Many people with BDD seek out cosmetic procedures or other extreme behaviors to “fix” their perceived physical flaws.

    How Do I Know If I Have Body Dysmorphia?

    Again, many people have some concerns about the way they look; that doesn’t necessarily mean you have body dysmorphic disorder.

    Those with BDD tend to fixate on one or several specific “flaws” in their appearance rather than feeling generally unhappy with the way they look. These thoughts are intense, disruptive to daily life, and often coupled with behaviors meant to hide or cover up the “flaw.”

    Another way to know if you have body dysmorphia is to take a “Do I have body dysmorphia” quiz. While these tests aren’t the same as a medical diagnosis, they can help separate thoughts and behaviors about one’s physical appearance that are normal, from those that may be disordered.

    Body Dysmorphia Symptoms

    Body dysmorphic disorder has a number of symptoms that are markedly different from experiencing unhappiness about the way one looks.

    If you or a loved one are showing some or any of these symptoms, it may indicate that something deeper is going on:2,3

    • Social isolation.
    • A strong belief that there is a defect in your appearance that makes you deformed or ugly.
    • A fixation with perceived physical flaws, to the point where these thoughts tend to disrupt other aspects of your day-to-day life.
    • Constantly checking the mirror or specifically avoiding mirrors.
    • Excessive grooming related to these “flawed” physical features.
    • Attempting to cover up these “defects,” using makeup, clothes, or other ways of styling appearance.
    • Believing people are taking a special (negative) interest in or mocking these “flaws.”
    • Constant comparison of one’s appearance with others.

    People who struggle with body dysmorphia also tend to exhibit other perfectionist-type tendencies, and they will likely remain unhappy with their appearance, even if they attempt to change it with surgery, extreme dieting, or other measures.3

    What to Do If You Have Body Dysmorphia

    If you have body dysmorphic disorder, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible. This condition can be detrimental to mental, physical, and emotional health, and unfortunately, BDD has high rates of suicide.4

    Proper treatment, which will likely include one or several types of therapy and possibly medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can make a significant difference in mental health and overall quality of life.

    Taking a body dysmorphia quiz can be a good way to understand whether it’s time to seek treatment.

    Resources

    1. DSM-IV to DSM-5 Body Dysmorphic Disorder Comparison. (2016). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Accessed November 2024.
    2. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). (n.d.) National Health Services. Accessed November 2024.
    3. Body dysmorphic disorder. (n.d.) Mayo Clinic. Accessed November 2024.
    4. Phillips K. A. (2007). Suicidality in Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Primary Psychiatry; 14(12):58–66.