Body Image and Body Dysmorphia

Dating apps boast millions of users and billions in revenue. But a new study reveals a darker side: they may be linked to poorer body image and mental health.

Viewing body-positive social media content, especially images, led to improved body image outcomes compared to fitspiration content, according to a new study.

Individuals with a history of sex work reported more symptoms of muscle dysmorphia, including a stronger drive for muscularity and life disruptions caused by it, but not greater dissatisfaction with their appearance.

A recent study reveals that using a slimming filter prompts individuals to make harmful comparisons between their real and filtered selves. This "social self-comparison" leads to negative outcomes such as increased body dissatisfaction and self-objectification.

A 21-year-old bodybuilder's chronic use of 2,4-dinitrophenol and anabolic steroids led to multi-organ failure and death, highlighting the dangers of unregulated performance enhancers and the psychological impact of muscle dysmorphia.

Sexualized self-presentation is common on mobile dating apps, particularly through visual cues like facial expressions and revealing clothing, with women and non-heterosexual users engaging more in this behavior.

Postpartum self-objectification harms women’s well-being, increasing body shame, depression, and anxiety. Self-compassion helps reduce these negative effects, boosting self-esteem and life satisfaction.

Researchers found that while women's stress related to competition over social status and male attention decreases with age, it remains a significant predictor of disordered eating even in postmenopausal women.

Appearance-related cyberbullying affects 62% of adolescent girls, leading to body dissatisfaction, increased eating disorder symptoms, and a stronger desire to alter appearance through dieting, self-presentation changes, or cosmetic procedures.

A recent study found that jaw surgery increased patients' sensitivity to emotional cues in their environment, suggesting physical changes to facial appearance can enhance emotional responsiveness and positively influence cognitive function.

A new study published in Sex Roles finds that dissatisfaction with plus-size exercise clothing can discourage physical activity among women.

A study analyzed 59 YouTube videos about anorexia nervosa, finding that while videos from doctors are more reliable, those from news outlets and patients have higher engagement, highlighting concerns over misinformation and the need for accurate medical content online.

A recent study uncovers surprising effects after just 8 minutes of TikTok viewing, revealing how certain content may influence young women’s perceptions of themselves and societal ideals.

A recent study found that college women who feel pressured to conform to norms like modesty and thinness experience more psychological distress, while norms focused on relationships and caregiving are linked to lower distress levels.

Problematic pornography use is associated with increased body comparisons among men, which in turn is linked to more negative body image, according to a new study. But frequency of use alone did not show the same connection.