Different perspectives on this topic

Phycologist:

What do you think about body dysmorphia?

I don't know what year exactly the year that this was brought into and became a psychiatric condition. But Body dysmorphia, wasn't called that way but it has always existed. It is a perception of your own body that is different from reality, and we build our sense of self in a very individual way, if that doesn't match with other people, for instance someone feels that they're very fat or their nose isn't the way the others are, they might end up doing procedures to fill that gap with reality and their own perception, and that can be endless.

How common is it?

It depends on how broadly you're thinking of it, because you could think of, within anorexia there is and element of body dysmorphia. I think that most likely girls of teenage years because that's when the body's changing, especially the female body is changing from the childhood condition into an adult.

Do you know any solutions or ways to treat it?

We would try several different ways. So we would have a nutritionist, a psychiatrist, and a psychologist trying to improve the condition. Also if the symptoms are strong other elements need to be looked at such as the persons self esteem, how is their sense of self and their resilience

What do you think causes body dysmorphia?

For each person is different, as a psychologist we're always looking into the persons history, their relationships, how they were loved, how they developed their sense of self and that is always within where do they get their sense of worth. Culturally, women are also socially expected to look a certain way and that with social media gets worse. Although, how much the family or friends contribute to protect the victim contribute to ech case of body dysmorphia.

How do you think body dysmorphia in teenage years or younger people may impact your adult life?

Any kind of psychological condition that you have during your teenage years will affect your adult life. So if you don't have that first hand, psychiatrist or psychological, support that might continue into your adult life and that would be obviously harmful.

Do you see any patterns in school?

The patterns that i can see in school not necessarily qualify or determine that people have body dysmorphia but I see a big pressure for girls to look a certain way, to be thin, I see jokes and bullying happening with people that not necessarily look the way that people think they should look and that's terrible, obviously that's horrible, a pressure to not eat or just how food at school is bad and only getting a little bit of a bowl of salad and tomatoes and then that feeds into itself, boys making fun of girls because they look a certain way, so I do see a pattern but i don't feel like it's exclusive to our school but very much across.

Do you think St. Paul's students have normalized body dysmorphia or like any kind of eating disorders?

No, I don't think we've normalized it, as adults in this school looking after mental health and behavior of children we're monitoring and trying to find ways to establish a healthy relationship between the students and food. So no we haven't normalized it and i feel it's a challenge that we have to overcome.

Nutritionist:

What do you think about body dysmorphia?

Body dysmorphia is a very serious disorder that goes beyond not liking your appearance. As a nutritionist, its worrying seeing the extreme diets people do like restrictive diets or binge eating. These behaviors can har physical and mental health, and i believe it should be treated quickly.

How common is it?

Not everyone goes after a professional for help, but it's a common disorder among teenagers, and that in later years are followed to peoples adult life. Many of my patients are discontent with their bodies and im here to create a healthy diet so they don't damage their health.

What are the main causes of body dysmorphia?

There are many causes such as social media, beauty standards, comparison. But for this disorder to develop there is normally a context behind it with environment, if its toxic, family and friends. But also having low self esteem and being exposed to the social media world also contribute to having Body Dysmorphia.

What are some solutions or ways to treat it?

The best approach is by having a nutritionist, psychologist and a psychiatrist. This means having multiple perspectives and support throughout the healing process. This is important because it creates a healthy environment for the patient and rebuild their relationship with food.

How can body dysmorphia impact your adult life?

If its untreated it can lead to anxiety, eating disorders, and depression during adult life. It can also affect relationships, confidence and work performance. Many adults that suffered this continue avoiding social events due to low self confidence. Thats why treating it early is important, so that we can prevent the future problems that comes with it.

St Paul's Students:

1 interview: 

Do you know what body dysmorphia is?

Body dysmorphia is a mental health issue which affects both boys and girls, typically during their teenage years. And it's mostly because they try to reach a body that is ideal to society, but maybe not for them. Also when they compare themselves to others.

Do you know how it may impact your health?

Yes, as I said before, body dysmorphia can impact your mental health, which can then be used for you to make certain actions and things, for you to get skinnier or try to get the perfect body.But then you can physically hurt yourself.

why do you think multiple teenagers suffer from body dysmorphia?

So, teenagers mostly suffer from body dysmorphia because they have a lot of pressure on them during their teenage years, since everyone is comparing themselves to others, trying to reach the perfect body for them, which may be set by someone who doesn't have an actual perfect body, only online. And teenagers compare themselves to others because they need validation. They need to know that their body is also perfect.

Do you notice a pattern around St.paul's?

Not that much. I know that there are many people which suffer from body dysmorphia, mostly girls, I don't see that happening a lot in boys, but because they really want to reach a body of someone, that maybe the person didn't get that body from actually exercising and stuff. 

 2 interview: 

Do you know what body dysmorphia is?

I know a bit, but not a lot. So, it's a mental health condition where the person becomes focused on their flaws and their appearance, and these flaws can be minor or even invisible to others, but they feel real to the person. 

Do you know how it may impact your health?

Yes, it can seriously impact mental health and physical health. People may experience anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or even develop unhealthy behaviors, which can be harmful towards the mental health.

Why do you think multiple teenagers suffer from body dysmorphia, and you being a boy in this situation where this reflects most upon girls?

Teenagers are very vulnerable to social pressure and rapid physical changes, especially during puberty. Also, the influence of social media is very bad to people, as it's a constant exposure to ideal body images online.

Do you notice a pattern around St. Paul's School?

Not that I know of, but I think many people suffer from body dysmorphia in St. Paul's. As teenagers during puberty, there are a lot of changes in the comparison between peers. 

Do you think this reflects on St. Paul's and how pupils live their day-to-day life?

Yes, it can be very bad towards both boys and girls. It's an issue that is going on for a while and that it should be treated fast.

Which gender do you think body dysmorphia affects more?

From experience, I think it affects girls more as they are more focused on their image and tend to be more comparative towards others. 

 3 interview: 

Do you know what body dysmorphia is?

To my understanding, body dysmorphia is when you look into the mirror and you see a different version of yourself. Most likely, you see yourself as a version you don't like when necessarily you're maybe not as fat as you see in the mirror.

Do you know what it may impact on your health?

Yes, I mean, if you see yourself in a different way and you have a mental illness, that obviously going to affect your health as you're not going to be eating as much and you're going to be fixed on getting that desired body which you most probably already have it, you just don't see it.

Why do you think multiple teenagers suffer from body dysmorphia?

I feel like it's the constant need to be better, be like someone or try to reach a certain body type, body goal.  So, I feel like teenagers are constantly on social media and having new ideas of what the ideal body should be. So, it's a constant chase and you never seem to be satisfied with what you already have.

Do you notice a pattern around St. Paul's school?

I feel like in St. Paul's, we don't have a lot of diversity between body types. I think it's very standard. We have very skinny people and I think that that creates a high standard.

Do you think this is reflected in examples like the concepts of ideal body?

Yes, definitely. 

 4 interview: 

Do you know what body dysmorphia is?

I’ve heard about it before, but I’m not totally sure what it means.

So, it’s basically when someone can’t stop thinking about flaws in how they look, even if those flaws aren’t really noticeable to others.

Do you know how it may impact your health?

I guess it can affect both mental and your physical healthy. People might feel anxious all the time, and maybe start doing unhealthy things to try to change how they look.

Why do you think multiple teenagers suffer from body dysmorphia, and you being a boy in this situation where this reflects most upon girls?

I think everyone, even boys, feels pressure to look a certain way. On social media you only see people who look perfect, and it makes you feel like you need to look like that too.

Do you notice a pattern around St. Paul’s School?

Kind of, yes. People don’t talk about it openly, but I think many students feel insecure about something. You can tell when people start comparing themselves or talking about looks all the time.

Do you think this reflects on how girls live their day-to-day life?

Yes, definitely. I think girls deal with more pressure to look good all the time. But boys also feel it, just in a different way. We just don’t talk about it as much.

Which gender do you think body dysmorphia affects more?

Probably girls, because society expects them to always look perfect.