Body image issues are commonly associated with young women, but they are far from the only demographic to suffer from them. Not only can males suffer from associated disorders like anorexia, there are certain conditions that tend to target them. Bigorexia, also known as muscle dysmorphia, is an affliction where the person is obsessed with becoming muscular, and feeling like they are never brawny enough. And unfortunately, it’s easy to fuel body insecurities and dysmorphia with the curated images of celebrities and influencers on social media.
What is bigorexia?
“Bigorexia is a psychological condition and type of body dysmorphic disorder which involves a distorted self-image that focuses specifically on muscle size and physical appearance,” said Kara Becker to HuffPost. (Becker is a certified eating disorder therapist and national director of eating disorder programs at Newport Healthcare.) This goes beyond the casual desire to exercise and bulk up. It can become an unrelenting obsession.
“Inaccurate view of their own bodies”
What’s even more sinister is that it doesn’t matter how buff they are; they can still feel they aren’t muscular enough. “Individuals may have an inaccurate view of their bodies, often believing they are smaller or less muscular,” said Amy Gooding, a clinical psychologist at Eating Recovery Center, Baltimore. “This belief and subsequent preoccupation can lead to unhealthy behaviors, including obsessive exercise, and may lead to changing one’s eating to be as lean as possible.”
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Bigorexia is increasingly common
A 2019 study examined health data from over 14,000 people aged 18–24. It found that 22% of males and 5% of females reported muscularity-oriented disordered eating behavior. This included dietary changes to bulk up and the use of anabolic steroids and dietary supplements. Disordered behaviors such as these can lead to muscle dysmorphia. This is characterized by a rigid diet, obsessive over-exercising, and extreme preoccupation with physique. In extreme cases, this can lead to social withdrawal, depression, and even heart failure from caloric restriction and overexertion.
Signs of bigorexia
“Some eating disorders can be challenging to diagnose,” said first author Jason Nagata, MD, of the UCSF Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, to the UCSF. “Unlike anorexia nervosa, which may be easily identified by parents or pediatricians, disordered eating to increase bulk may masquerade as healthy habits and because of this, it tends to go unnoticed.” However, he added that clues can involve highly restrictive diets that avoid carbohydrates and fats, compulsively checking physique and weight, and long exercise regimes that can interfere with socialization.
People with muscle dysphoria or display behaviours of it can create precise and time-consuming diets and gym routines that focus on improving their physique. They may insist on exercising even when at risk of injury. Some may wear loose clothing to hide their “imperfections”. Meanwhile, others invest time and money in finding and tailoring clothes to accentuate different parts of their bodies, according to the International OCD Foundation.
Risk factors
Keep in mind, bigorexia is a form of body dysmorphic disorder, not an eating disorder (although they often go hand-in-hand). And it’s hard to prevent because there’s no known cause for it. However, there are factors that can increase the risk of developing behaviors associated with bigorexia. These include a history of being bullied, low self-esteem, loneliness, unhealthy views about muscularity, as well as cultural and media influences that make unrealistic body standards look viable and important.
It’s not vanity
While they may seem vain or egotistical, their actions are fueled by shame, insecurities, and low self-esteem. This obsession can lead to the cessation of relationships, hobbies, and financial security. It can also cause suicidal ideation when individuals give up on trying to make their bodies “look like they should”. When confronted by loved ones, these individuals may become angry and defensive, or avoidant. They are more likely to seek plastic surgery and other remedies to “fix” their “flaws” than psychiatric help.
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The effect of social media fitness influencers
The prominence of online fitness influencers and workout culture can increase the risk of bigorexia, especially for teenagers. “Men are often exposed to hyper-muscular ideals online, particularly through fitness and celebrity content,” said researcher John Mingoia, and a lecturer at the University of South Australia, in a statement. “When these posts attract a high volume of likes and positive comments, they reinforce the message that this is the body standard that men should strive for. Over time, this can lead to harmful behaviours such as excessive exercising, restricted eating, and even steroid use.” However, one small study showed that people who viewed this content weren’t necessarily at greater risk of developing bigorexia. Rather it was those who place high importance on likes and comments on their own posts.
Treatment for muscle dysmorphia
Because bigorexia is less known, experts are still examining the best ways to treat it. As of now, cognitive behavioural therapy is a potential method, since it’s beneficial for those with similar types of body image disorders. For now, more awareness and education is needed to help stop people from developing muscle dysmorphia, and to provide assistance for those who have it. For example, some people may benefit from unsubscribing from certain influencers and following certified health experts who promote self-kindness.
Stay healthy and happy
For most young people, exercise and healthy diets are a positive thing when the goal is simply about feeling good and energized. “It’s great that a lot of these teenage boys are concerned about their health and want to do better and improve,” said Brian St. Pierre, RD, CSCS, director of nutrition at Precision Nutrition, to Men’s Health. “We just want to encourage it in a way that’s going to actually help their long-term health and well-being. Whether it’s running, biking, lifting weights—the emphasis should be on eating well to nourish themselves and feel their best.”
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