Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Annual September 3 observance raises awareness of body dysmorphic disorder, a serious but treatable mental health condition that often goes undetected.
As appearance-focused social media trends such as "looksmaxxing" encourage relentless scrutiny of physical appearance, it has become increasingly important to distinguish between everyday appearance concerns and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a serious but treatable mental health condition that affects more than 100 million people worldwide. The inaugural Body Dysmorphic Disorder Awareness Day on September 3 aims to increase understanding of BDD, reduce stigma, and help more people recognize the disorder and seek effective treatment.
People living with BDD experience persistent, intrusive thoughts about perceived flaws in their appearance that are either minor or not observable to others. These thoughts can consume hours each day and lead to repetitive behaviors such as mirror checking, excessive grooming, comparing one's appearance with others, repeatedly seeking reassurance, skin picking, or pursuing cosmetic procedures in an attempt to "fix" the perceived flaw. BDD can profoundly disrupt school, work, relationships, and daily life.
Despite its prevalence, BDD often goes undiagnosed for years, delaying access to effective treatment. The consequences can be devastating. Research has found that approximately two-thirds of people with BDD experience suicidal thoughts during their lifetime, and more than one-third attempt suicide, underscoring the urgent need for greater awareness, earlier recognition, and access to evidence-based care.
Established by the Boston-based International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) and the UK-based Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation (BDDF), the inaugural global observance seeks to change that. Body Dysmorphic Disorder Awareness Day aims to increase understanding of BDD, reduce stigma, and help more people recognize the disorder, seek effective treatment, and begin recovery.
"Awareness can change lives. The sooner people recognize the signs of body dysmorphic disorder, the sooner they can find effective treatment, connect with support, and begin recovery," said Rebecca Deusser, Executive Director of the International OCD Foundation.
"BDD can be an incredibly isolating condition. As both someone with lived experience and the Managing Director of the BDD Foundation, I know how life-changing the right diagnosis and treatment can be," said Kitty Newman, Managing Director of the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation. "Our hope is that this inaugural Awareness Day helps more people recognise the signs, seek support sooner, and realise that recovery is possible."
On Body Dysmorphic Disorder Awareness Day, individuals with lived experience, clinicians, researchers, advocates, and community organizations will share educational resources, personal stories, and practical information to increase understanding of BDD and encourage those who may be struggling to seek help.
The public is encouraged to visit the official Body Dysmorphic Disorder Awareness Day webpage to learn more about body dysmorphic disorder, access educational resources, find treatment resources, and discover ways to participate in the inaugural observance.
About the International OCD Foundation: The IOCDF is the leading authority on obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders including Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors, and Hoarding Disorder. The largest 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in this space, we are dedicated to serving a broad community of individuals around the world along with their family members, loved ones, mental health professionals, and researchers. Visit iocdf.org.
About the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation: At the BDD Foundation we are proud to be the world's only charity dedicated solely to BDD. Although UK-based, our reach and community are international. We aim to advance education and understanding of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). We provide vital support to those living with or affected by BDD, while championing research into BDD and its treatments. Visit bddfoundation.org.