Did you know that mental health professionals assert that if we want to be more than mediocre, you and I may have a disease? If we are not content with an average appearance, we may need their psychological guidance. If we are careful about our diet and spend significant time in the gym, we may have to be medicated. According to them, we are probably suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). How can you and I find out if we are afflicted?

            According to the Butler Body Image Program of Butler Hospital at Brown University, people with Body Dysmorphic Disorder worry about their appearance. Even when others tell them they look fine, people with the disorder find it hard to believe and they are not reassured. Does this sound familiar?  Sure, your biceps are already big enough. Why struggle to get them fuller? So, you don't have a six-pack; it's no big deal. 

            People with BDD think about flaws in their appearance for at least an hour a day.  According to the people at Butler Hospital, this means we are obsessed with our appearance. I guess if I hold my workouts to less than an hour, I will be cured.  

They have provided a test. How do you know if you have BDD?

• Are you concerned about the appearance of some parts of your body?
• Do these concerns preoccupy you?
• Do you spend more than an hour each day thinking about these concerns?
• Is your main concern that you aren't thin enough, or that you might become too fat?
• Do you frequently compare your appearance with that of others? Do you scrutinize the appearance of others?
• Do you often check your appearance in mirrors or other reflecting surfaces?
• Do you seek surgery for appearance concerns when other people tell you that you look fine?
• Do you question others as to whether they notice these flaws?
• Do you measure parts of your body?
• Do you do excessive reading or research on how to improve these flaws?
• Do you diet or exercise excessively?
• Do you use drugs or supplements to become more muscular or thinner?

Well, I don't know about you, but I seem to be in deep trouble. Having been a competitive bodybuilder as well as a plastic surgeon, I am very concerned about maintaining the best shape I can. I don't want to be mediocre or average. I want to stand out and be admired. Every day, as I work out and plan my diet, I am concerned about my looks. Hell, I even had liposuction to get rid of my love handles. It seems I would be more normal if I just was a spectator in life, instead of a participant. I admire to physiques of the top bodybuilders and appreciate the work and sacrifice that has gone into them. I try to learn as much as I can about exercise, nutrition and supplements. It seems that by reading this magazine, I have a problem.

            Of course, things can get out of hand. If your concerns about your body are interfering with school, work and/or your social life, a real problem may exist. However, what bothers me is that even if this is not the case, the Butler people state that you have a problem even if you experience manageable distress and are able to function well, but not up to your potential. It seems to me they have it backwards. We are the ones trying to reach our potential. We go the extra mile and work harder. We are not content to be just one of the herd; we try to rise above.

But of course, that's just my opinion.