Muscle dysmorphia

Muscle dysmorphia, also known as megarexia, bigorexia,[1] or reverse anorexia, is a subtype of body dysmorphic disorder. Affecting mostly males, muscle dysmorphia is an obsessive preoccupation via a delusional or exaggerated belief that one's own body is too small, too skinny, insufficiently muscular, or insufficiently lean, although in most cases, the individual's build is normal or even exceptionally large and muscular already.[1] Typically, muscle dysmorphia involves disordered fixation on gaining body mass, as by devoting inordinate time and attention on exercise routines, dietary regimens, and nutritional supplements. Resorting to anabolic steroids is common.

Persons experiencing muscle dysmorphia are typically very distracted from school or work, and may avoid romantic relationships in belief that their own bodies are severely undesirable. Versus non-muscle versions of body dysmorphic disorder, rates of suicide attempts are especially high. Associated problems have been discussed as the "Adonis Complex", an issue more general than muscle dysmorphia, and largely attributed to society's unrealistic standards of ideal bodies for men.[2] Muscle dysmorphia among males might be similar to anorexia nervosa among females.[3] Yet the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation estimates that one in 10 gym-going men experiences muscle dysmorphia.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Buchanan, Ben (2015). "Body Dismorphic Disorder: Identifying and Treating an Invisible Problem" (PDF). Australian Clinical Psychologist 1 (1): 20–22.
  2. ↑ Pope, Harrison (2000). The Adonis Complex: The Secret Crisis of Male Body Obsession. New York: Simon & Schuster.
  3. ↑ Cortese, Anthony J. (2007). Provocateur: Images of Women and Minorities in Advertising. Rowman and Littlefield. p. 72. ISBN 0742568768.
  4. ↑ "'Bigorexia': Muscle dysmorphia 'now affects one in 10 gym-going men'". BBC News. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
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