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Prevalence and correlates of body dysmorphic disorder in health club users in the presence vs absence of eating disorder symptomology

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) has been consistently linked with eating disorders, however studies that stratify associations between BDD in subjects with and without eating disorder symptomology are sparse. It was, therefore, the aim of this study to assess correlates of BDD (including social media use, motivations for exercise, exercise addiction, and sexuality) stratified by eating disorder symptomology.

Methods

Cross-sectional study of 1665 health club users recruited online completed a battery of surveys. BDD prevalence rates were calculated and logistic regression models were created in two sub-samples: indicated or no-indicated eating disorder symptomology.

Results

The key findings showed the prevalence of BDD in participants with indicated-eating disorder symptomology was significantly higher than in participants without indicated-eating disorder symptomology, yielding an odds ratio of 12.23. Furthermore, several correlates were associated with BDD only participants with an absence of eating disorder symptomology (gender, BMI, exercise addiction, exercising for mood improvement, attractiveness and tone), with others being significantly associated with BDD in participants in the presence of indicated eating disorders symptomology (exercising for health and enjoyment, relationship status, and ethnicity).

Conclusions

This study provides more evidence of the complex relationship that exists between BDD and eating disorders. Furthermore, it is recommended that practitioners working with BDD subjects should screen for eating disorders due to the high morbidity associated with eating disorders.

Level of evidence

Level III: case-control analytic study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Compass House, Cambridge, CB1 1PT, UK

    Mike Trott, James Johnstone & Lee Smith

  2. Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

    Joe Firth

  3. NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, Australia

    Joe Firth

  4. Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Joe Firth

  5. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Igor Grabovac

  6. School of Psychology and Sport Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK

    Daragh McDermott

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  1. Mike Trott
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  2. James Johnstone
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  4. Igor Grabovac
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  6. Lee Smith
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Correspondence to Mike Trott.

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Trott, M., Johnstone, J., Firth, J. et al. Prevalence and correlates of body dysmorphic disorder in health club users in the presence vs absence of eating disorder symptomology. Eat Weight Disord 26, 1169–1177 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-01018-y

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