Latest news with #bodydysmorphia
The Verge
2 days ago
- Health
- The Verge
Molly White noted the existence of a chatbot called 'Looksmaxxing GPT.
ChatGPT has fun new incel problems. Over the weekend, ' It told one user he was 'subhuman' and began recommending surgeries. Body dysmorphia has been on the rise among men and boys, and a chatbot featured on ChatGPT's front page that makes things worse seems like a bad idea. White reported it, but OpenAI thinks this chatbot is fine.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
‘My 16-year-old son doesn't like the way he looks. He seems to be struggling with puberty'
Question My 16-year-old son doesn't like the way he looks. He won't have his hair cut as he is trying to cover his face with his hair. This is causing students in his class to make nasty comments about his appearance. On occasion he is refusing to go to school because he doesn't want anyone to see him. He is very anxious and avoids social situations. He doesn't socialise outside school, but talks to friends online. He has now said he doesn't like his friends and doesn't want to hang out with them at school any more or speak online. He won't say why. I have tried to explain that it doesn't matter what people look like and he shouldn't care what people think. Also, I have talked to him about building resilience. He seems to be struggling with puberty and how his body is changing and also his features. This is really impacting his life now and affecting his school work. I read online about 'body dysmorphia disorder' and wondered if this is what is affecting him. We are not sure how to help him and would appreciate your advice. READ MORE Answer Lots of teenagers worry about their appearance or are unhappy about certain parts of their body. When these feelings and thoughts become excessive so that they start negatively affecting their quality of life, then the teenager may have a condition called body dysmorphic disorder. This can start off mild and then become more serious as the negative thoughts become habitual, and the teenager can spend large amounts of time ruminating and obsessing about their appearance. This can lead to low self-esteem and avoiding going out to meet people socially. As you have discovered, simply reassuring your teenager that they look fine or that they should not worry about what other people think usually does not reduce their obsessions – they may know this rationally but are finding it too hard to control their negative thoughts. [ Body image: 'It's a total bombardment of social media' Opens in new window ] Listening to your son Try to encourage your son to talk about what is going on for him. Ask him to describe his thoughts and feelings in detail. For example, encourage him to talk about how he feels going out and how he thinks growing his hair might help him. As you listen try to communicate compassion and understanding: 'Lots of people ruminate about their appearance – it can be really hard to change this.' Initially you are not trying to 'judge' or 'challenge' what he is saying, you are simply trying to help him talk and vent his feelings – this will help him feel better and not alone. Helping your son talk Of course, lots of teenagers find it hard to open up about something as personal as their body image, and asking too many direct questions can feel like a pressure and make them close down. In this instance it can work to take a step back and communicate a message that you are there for them when they are ready to talk. You can also make sure to be available at the times your teen is more likely to talk (such as travelling one to one to activities or late at night when they are more open). You can also create daily 'opportunities for conversation' such as arranging a trip when you can be one to one and relaxed together. Naming what is going on Naming his condition as something external to him could be helpful. You can start this conversation by talking informally about BDD – 'it sounds like you might be suffering from body dysmorphia disorder; this can happen to lots of teenagers'. Then you can encourage him to seek a diagnosis and further help (see below). A diagnosis of BDD could help him view his condition more objectively and help him to realise that he is not alone – that lots of teenagers feel this way. It also means that you both can research the condition online. Check out together some of the reputable medical websites, which describe BDD and related conditions as well as treatments and support groups that he might be interested in attending. Getting help You can seek formal assessment and support by going to your GP to get a referral to your local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). The recommended treatments for BDD include: Supportive counselling to help him talk through his feelings Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help him change his negative thoughts and ruminations Family therapy to help you support him and medication, notably SSRIs, which are a type of antidepressant that have been shown to have a positive impact. Finally, overcoming BDD and body image concerns can take some time. It is important to help him live his life well despite his ruminations. Continue to support him to get involved in his passions and fun activities and to support him to reach out and make friendships whether online or face to face. John Sharry is clinical director of the Parents Plus Charity and an adjunct professor at the UCD School of Psychology. See
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tom Daley reveals how a savage comment from one of his diving instructors led to him battling body dysmorphia and bulimia
Tom Daley has revealed that his issues with body dysmorphia and bulimia were triggered by a savage comment made by one of his diving instructors. The former Olympic diver, 31, candidly opened up about his struggles with body issues and eating disorders in his new documentary, Tom Daley: 1.6 Seconds. He recalled how a shocking comment made by an instructor led to him obsessing over his weight and food. Tom explained: 'At the end of 2011 I was told that I would have to lose weight by our performance director at British diving, and that I was overweight and that I needed to look slimmer, leaner and more like I did in 2008. 'It was the first time where I felt that I was being looked at and judged not for how I did in the diving pool, but for how I looked. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'I took then some quite drastic measures to make sure that the food did not stay in my stomach let's put it that way.' He candidly went on: 'A rational person would know that I wasn't fat, but that was all that I could think about in the build up to the Olympic Games. I had a diary that I would write in, and at the top of it, I'd write the date and my weight. 'I was kind of left on my own devices, and kind of left with that struggle by myself, because even when I was having these meetings with my sports psychologist, I didn't know how to bring that out, because every time I said it out loud, I knew it felt silly. 'But in my head, it was the biggest thing that I would always think about every day, every time I made a decision about what I was going to eat, if I was going to eat it and then get myself so hungry that I would end up eating so much and bingeing to the point where I was then so guilty that I then had to do something about that.' The gold medallist admitted that he felt 'very alone' and unable to talk to anyone about his struggles, because he felt as though men weren't supposed to have mental health issues. Tom said: 'I still feel like ashamed talking about it now, because, like, once you're on the other side of it, it seems so easy just to stop and ask for help, but when you're in it, you feel like you can't be helped. 'Guys didn't have eating disorders. Guys didn't have any problems with their mental health. 'Guys were meant to be these macho things that get on with anything and you just keep going. I was not that, I didn't know who I could talk to. He previously spoke of his early career struggles ahead of the release of his new Discovery+ documentary, Tom Daley: 1.6 Seconds, in June (pictured in 2008) 'The running theme here is that I felt very alone in all of the things that I was dealing with.' Body dysmorphia is a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others, according to the NHS. Bulimia (bulimia nervosa) is an eating disorder and serious mental health condition. according to the NHS. Tom previously reflected on his body issues earlier this year, telling Fashion Magazine: 'I had moments of real struggle. In 2011, my performance director told me that I was overweight and that I needed to look like I did when I was 14 - I was nearly 18 at the time. 'That was the first time I felt like somebody was looking at my body - not from a performance point of view but by what it looked like.' 'I struggled with all kinds of different issues around body dysmorphia and bulimia.' After retiring from diving in 2024, Tom has set his sights on projects including the upcoming knitting show with Channel 4, Game of Wool. The documentary forced him to look back on the good and bad of his Olympic career. The diver said he felt particularly alone as a man suffering from an eating disorder. He added: 'It was not something that men talked about. It was like, 'Well, that only happens to girls. So I felt very alone in that experience.' But while Tom was candid about the darker side of his athletic career, he said he is excited to tell his children about it. Tom shares two children - Robert 'Robbie' and Phoenix Rose - with his husband Lance Black. They welcomed the twins in 2023 via a surrogate. Tom said: 'There's so much archival footage that I've never seen before, so it was very surreal to look back on it. 'It made me very emotional, but I'm really excited to be able to show it to my kids in the future: 'This is what I did as an athlete and what I'm extremely proud of.'' The former diver turned knitting extraordinaire explained that over time, his priorities shifted towards his family. He added: 'By the time the Tokyo Olympics came around [in 2021], I realised I was more than just a diver. 'Between 2016 and 2021, I got married, we had a kid and my priorities shifted.' Touching upon his changing priorities, Tom said that knitting became a healthy distraction for him. He explained: 'During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics; we had such severe lockdowns that knitting actually became my superpower. 'It allowed me to really stay present and have a healthy distraction.' WHAT IS BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER? Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), or body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others. People of any age can have BDD, but it is most common in teenagers and young adults. It affects both men and women. Having BDD does not mean you are vain or self-obsessed. It can be very upsetting and have a big impact on your life. Symptoms of BDD You might have BDD if you: worry a lot about a specific area of your body (particularly your face) spend a lot of time comparing your looks with other people's look at yourself in mirrors a lot or avoid mirrors altogether go to a lot of effort to conceal flaws – for example, by spending a long time combing your hair, applying make-up or choosing clothes pick at your skin to make it 'smooth' BDD can seriously affect your daily life, including your work, social life and relationships. BDD can also lead to depression, self-harm and even thoughts of suicide. You should visit your GP if you think you might have BDD. If you have relatively mild symptoms of BDD you should be referred for a type of talking therapy called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which you have either on your own or in a group If you have moderate symptoms of BDD you should be offered either CBT or a type of antidepressant medication called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) If you have more severe symptoms of BDD, or other treatments don't work, you should be offered CBT together with an SSRI.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Rosie O'Donnell admits to taking popular weight-loss drug as she reveals dramatic slim down
Rosie O'Donnell shocked fans as she gave an update with her dramatic weight loss journey while using a popular weight-loss drug. The TV personality, 63 - who was rocked by a huge loss after fleeing the U.S. after Trump's presidential win - jumped to her main Instagram page to unveil her much slimmer frame as she took to the stage for a stand-up comedy show. She has been open about taking Mounjaro and first revealed she was taking the drug back in 2023. In the caption of the picture, the star penned to her followers: 'i cant believe this is me now #mounjaro #weightloss #bodydismorphia.' O'Donnell donned a donned a yellow sweater as well as a blouse underneath and blue pants in the snap. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. In the caption of the picture, the star penned to her followers: 'i cant believe this is me now #mounjaro #weightloss #bodydismorphia' Social media users jumped to the comment section to share their thoughts on Rosie's weight loss. One wrote, 'You look great Ro!!! I'm glad you're feeling better and taking care of your health!' Another asked the star how many pounds she has dropped since taking Mounjaro and typed, 'Fabulous!! How much weight in total? I'm on the same journey,' with O'Donnell replying with, 'Dunno.' The weight loss dug 'is an injectable prescription medicine that is used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus,' per the official website. 'You look amazing! I've lost 110 on Mounjaro. My A1C is in check. Blood sugar normal,' a fan also shared. Another penned, 'Good for you, Rosie!!!! Shine ON!' and one added, 'Looking great. And look at you doing stand up in Ireland. Literally back to your roots.' Back in March of this year, O'Donnell talked about her 'shocking' new size after taking the medication. In a TikTok video uploaded at the time, she explained to her followers: 'I am on Mounjaro for my diabetes and one of the side effects is you lose weight. Another asked the star how many pounds she has dropped since taking Mounjaro and typed, 'Fabulous!! How much weight in total? I'm on the same journey,' with O'Donnell replying with, 'Dunno' 'But [the weight loss] is also because I had a chef for over two years in Los Angeles and I don't have a chef now. It's me cooking for [my child] Clay and me.' The TV personality then recalled how she went to a clothing store in Dublin and revealed she was a size large after previously wearing sizes XL or XXL. 'I find it shocking. I really do. I find it completely shocking,' the mom-of-five expressed. Being on Mounjaro has not only aided her in losing weight, but has made her feel 'healthier' and she is also 'sleeping better.' Back in January 2023, O'Donnell explained that she had dropped 10lbs after being on the drug over the holiday season when she was prescribed the medication by her doctor. While taking her child to school, the star explained on TikTok: 'I need to let you know I've lost 10lbs since Christmas.' She added that she has been taking Mounjaro after a fan commented, ''You can't drop a bomb like that and not tell us HOW???' Rosie stated, 'Okay, so like two months ago, my doctor put me on... not Ozempic, Mounjaro? Something like that, and Repath.' She added, 'One I do every other week, and one I do once a week. And that and on Christmas, I stopped drinking anything except water. 'Now I have had champagne one night, that was a toast, and some wine one night, so it hasn't been 100% but I really stopped drinking like five or six Diet Coke's a day.' Rosie now only sticks to drinking water and has reduced her sugar intake while also sharing, 'And my appetite has decreased significantly. 'It's probably the meds, and I'm trying to move more, so all of those things combined, that's what it is.' Another fan mentioned the high cost of Mounjaro and the actress stated, 'Yeah you have to have diabetes to get a prescription. That's what I heard. 'People are doing Ozempic parties here in L.A. where they all do Ozempic, but I have diabetes too, so that's why I'm on it.' O'Donnell suffered a previous health scare when she had a heart attack at the age of 50. She previously reflected on the health incident during an appearance on The Best Podcast Ever in 2023 and admitted that she 'should've died.' While in the parking lot of a hospital to pick up a friend, the star ended up helping a stranger nearby. 'She said 'Rosie, will you help me up?' So I went over and I helped her up and it took a lot longer than I expected. 'I got home and my arms were hurting. I thought, 'That's funny, it must've been from pushing her up.' So I went about my business.' The media personality looked up her symptoms but opted to not immediately see a doctor at the time. She then recalled having a heart attack on a Monday but didn't go to the hospital until two days later. Upon seeing a cardiologist, Rosie was told she was having a 'massive heart attack' and was rushed to the emergency room. 'I was like, 'Wait, wait, what?!' I couldn't believe it. And then I came to find out that the symptoms for a woman having a heart attack are very different than the symptoms for men having heart attacks.' The former talk show host added, 'Yet what we see on TV are always men having heart attacks.' Along with keeping her fans updated amid her health journey, the star has also been documenting her new life in Ireland. Rosie and her nonbinary child Clay relocated to the country after Trump's U.S. presidential win in November 2024. She has also returned to doing stand-up and has a few upcoming shows on select dates between May 28-July 23 at the International Bar in Dublin.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Towie star reveals secret battle with eating disorder telling fans ‘I didn't eat for weeks' in heartbreaking post
A FORMER TOWIE star has revealed his heartbreaking eating disorder ordeal in a brave new admission. Socialite Vas J Morgan, 36, who often jet-sets around the world accompanying Rita Ora, has taken to social media to reveal his health battle. 4 4 4 Vas, who formerly appeared on The Only Way Is Essex, took to Instagram to share a lengthy post about his struggles with an eating disorder over the years. The TV star confessed that his issues with food and body dysmorphia began at the tender age of 13 and have continued to follow him ever since. Vas penned online: "In the past I've been really inconsistent with training, and last year I stopped completely. "I've struggled with body dysmorphia and eating disorders since I was about 13. "I've gone from not eating for weeks, to binge eating for days, to overeating for months. "From training twice a day, to twice a month, to not at all. "My body has been through so many changes that I eventually had to stop focusing on how it looked, and just try to eat consistently no matter what the mirror said." The former TV personality continued to recall how moving to fitness-focused Los Angeles added an extra pressure - particularly in the LGBTQ community. He confessed the struggles he faced where he admitted that "men will ignore you" if you aren't in shape in Hollywood. Vas wrote: "When I moved to LA, the pressure to look good, especially in the gay world, was overwhelming. Towie's Vas J Morgan records 'director' barking orders to cast "It's a place where some men will literally ignore you if you're not body perfect. It became a really toxic environment for me, and all my old habits and disorders came back worse than before. "Last year I had to reset. I knew I had to focus on being healthy. And over the past few weeks, I've finally started training consistently again and for the first time, it feels great. "Not because I want to look a certain way, or get attention, or fit in. But because it eases my anxiety. It gives me peace. It makes me feel good." Vas concluded: "I'm just happy to have finally found a purpose in the gym that isn't rooted in pressure or perfection, just happiness. "Anyway, thought I'd share." Vas first achieved fame for his appearances on the Essex based reality show for ITV but it was the celebrity connections he managed to form that saw him travel the globe and remain in the spotlight. He is regularly seen hanging out with Rita Ora and Joey Essex across the globe. Vas has also been known to party with Nicole Richie' s younger sister Sofia during her time on the modelling circuit.
