Bigorexia or Muscular Dysmorphia in Men

Bigorexia or Muscular Dysmorphia in Men October 15, 2019 PeopleImages/Getty Images More in OCD Related Conditions Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Treatment Types Living With OCD Being preoccupied with muscle development may involve a disturbance in body image similar to anorexia. Bigorexia (muscular dysmorphia) is now affecting hundreds of thousands of men. For some men, muscle development is such a complete preoccupation that they will miss important events, continue training through pain or broken bones, even lose their job rather than interrupt their physical development schedule. Muscle Dysmorphia The term muscle dysmorphia was coined in 1997 to describe this new form of disorder. Other people refer to the condition as reverse anorexia, and now more commonly bigorexia. The causes are not known but two key ideas revolve around bigorexia as a form of obsessive-compulsive behavior and secondly, the effect of the media putting the same type of pressure on men to conform to an ideal shape has been the case with women for years. The Main Characteristic of Bigorexia The main characteristic of bigorexia is the thought that no matter how hard you try your body is never muscular enough. The condition is recognized as more common in men although some women bodybuilders have also been reported with similar symptoms. Most men with bigorexia are weightlifters, but this does not mean that most weightlifters are bigorexic. Compared to normal weightlifters who report spending up to 40 minutes a day thinking about body development, men with bigorexia report being preoccupied 5 or more hours a day thinking their bodies are under-developed. With the increase in gymnasium provision and attendance, there is some speculation that this alone accounts for increased awareness of physical imperfection in men and a quest to attain the perfect body. Conservative estimates put bigorexia as affecting hundreds of thousands of men. Mirror Checking Bigorexic men check themselves out up to 12 times a day. This compares to roughly 3 times a day with other  weightlifters.   Diet Very strict diets are important. Bigorexics will rarely eat at another persons house or at a restaurant because they are unable to control the dietary balance or know exactly what has gone into food preparation. It has been known for  men to develop eating disorders  such as bulimia. Measuring Up Bigorexic men constantly compare their own physique with that of other men. Invariably their perceptions are incorrect. Even when observing men of equal physique they will judge themselves as smaller. Drugs The  use of anabolic steroids  is common amongst bigorexics. Men continue using steroids despite experiencing side effects such as increased aggression, acne,  breast enlargement, impotence, baldness, impotence, and testicular shrinkage. Body Fat Men with bigorexia typically worry about the  percentage of body fat  they carry rather than being overweight.   Psychological Factors Unlike many bodybuilders who enjoy the opportunity to show their physique in public, bigorexics  do  not. Many will hide away for days at a time because of embarrassment about their  body shape. Research undertaken by Pope and others in 2000 found that one man avoided sex with his wife in case it used up energy he could apply to  bodybuilding. Typically, men with bigorexia have low  self-esteem. Many  report  having been teased at school about their physique leading to a focus on making good. However, the attempt to catch up is never achieved and results in a poor sense of self and feelings of emptiness. Studies by Olivardia and others in 2000 also found that 29  percent  of men with bigorexia had a history of anxiety disorder and 59  percent  exhibited some other form of  mood disorder. Treatment Options At the time of  writing, no systematic studies have been produced to compare the effectiveness of one treatment over another, either individually or in combination. A particular problem with the condition is that, rather like anorexics, men rarely see themselves as having a problem and are unlikely to come forward for treatment. The condition itself occurs partly as a response to feelings of depression and lack of self-esteem so coming forward for treatment is admitting defeat. Where men have come forward a combination of educational and psychotherapeutic techniques has begun to show promising results. Cognitive-behavioral techniques place an emphasis on identifying and changing patterns of thinking towards more realistic and achievable goals. Future treatment packages may well be informed by such approaches but more systematic studies are now required.