Proportion of body dysmorphic disorder among medical students in a tertiary care teaching hospital: A cross-sectional study
Alan J Kizhakkel, Joan Felicita Samson, Mia George Kallumkal, Kevin Frank ManeekObjectives:
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by excessive preoccupation with perceived defects in physical appearance, often leading to significant emotional distress and impaired functioning. Emerging evidence suggests that young adults, particularly medical students, may be increasingly vulnerable to body image concerns due to academic pressures, social comparison, and heightened exposure to appearance-related standards. Despite its potential impact on mental health, BDD remains underdiagnosed and understudied in this population, especially in the Indian context. People affected with BDD do undergo multiple cosmetic procedures to correct their perceived imperfections. This study is to assess the screen-positive proportion of BDD among medical students in a tertiary care teaching hospital in South Kerala, India, and the socio-demographic profile of students screened positive for this disorder.
Materials and Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among first, second, third, and final year medical students, using systematic random sampling to select 200 participants. Data were collected through a pretested, validated semi-structured questionnaire distributed via Google Forms. The data was collated using Excel 2021 and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences(SPSS) software.
Results:
Out of 200 participants, 67 students (33.5%) expressed concerns about their body image by positively responding to BDD-Questionnaire questions. Using the BDDQ, 9% (18 students) of the participants screened positive for BDD. Among the 67 students who expressed concerns about body image, primary concerns were related to overweight/obesity (p = 0.004, odds ratio (OR) = 6.41, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.89–21.74) and shape of lips (p = 0.021, OR = 4.33, 95% CI: 1.35–13.91).
Conclusion:
This study highlights a notable proportion of medical students who screened positive for BDD. These results emphasize the urgency to address issues with body image and mental health among students, underlining the need for targeted remedies.