Abstract
Background: In the United States of America, the prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is believed to be 2% of the general population. There is a scarcity of evidence in Saudi Arabia on the incidence of BDD and its consequences. The significance of this study is to raise awareness of the problem, provide information, and determine the disease prevalence. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and effects of BDD in female university students. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study done in Al-Rayan Colleges in Madina, Saudi Arabia. All females from age 18 to 30 years were enrolled in this study. A total sample size of 286 was calculated with Epi-Info software. For data analysis, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used. Results: There were 286 participants in this study. Majority of the 280 participants (97.9%) were between the ages of 18 and 30 years. The prevalence of BDD was 14.68%. When comparing social avoidance to BDD, it was discovered that 29/42 people with BDD avoid social contact, with a P value of 0.001. Majority of the participants with BDD spent more than 4 h per day on social media, while 13/42 spent between 2 and 4 h per day on social media (P = 0.828). When comparing cosmetic intervention to the BDD individuals, it was discovered that all the BDD participants wished to do the cosmetic procedures (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The current study sheds light on the current state of BDD in the most vulnerable section of the general population. Throughout the study, we discovered that BDD is a common ailment that affects 14.68% of female Saudi youths. The majority of BDD participants avoid social gatherings, avoid visiting friends, and refuse to leave the house. On top of that, people with BDD wish to undergo cosmetic operations such as skin color changes and skin peeling.