Bodybuilding Addiction

It’s not a new phenomenon, but it is one that receives less attention than other body disorders. Officially called muscle or muscular dysmorphia, this eating disorder that affects men more than women is a serious health concern. The casual term for muscle dysmorphia is bigorexia and it refers to the obsession with building ever-bigger muscles. Bodybuilders are susceptible to this disorder, but so is the average person. We tend to think of women as feeling the pressure to look a certain way, but men are not immune and the consequences are harmful.

Muscle Dysmorphia

Dysmorphia refers to a distorted view of one’s body. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), for example, is characterized by a grossly inaccurate sense of one’s own image in the mirror. A woman with BDD might look beautiful and thin by traditional standards, but when she looks at herself she sees a huge nose, terrible skin or an overweight body. Anorexia and bulimia are other examples of disorders in which the sufferer sees a distorted image of his or her own body.

With muscle dysmorphia, or bigorexia, a person becomes obsessed with looking lean and muscular. This can lead to compulsive working out, abuse of steroids, and even symptoms of anorexia or bulimia. People with bigorexia look in the mirror and see a body that is not muscular enough, even if everyone around them sees the opposite. Unfortunately, this disorder has not gotten the same attention that eating disorders have, but this is changing. 

Recognizing the Signs of Bigorexia

If you know someone who works out a lot and obsesses over muscle mass, you may want to watch for signs that they have a real problem. Remember that although bigorexia is more common in men, women can develop the disorder as well. Here are some signs that a person is becoming too obsessed with muscle mass:

• Relationships are negatively impacted by a workout routine

• Appointments or responsibilities are neglected because of worries about appearance

• A significant portion of time each day is spent focusing on and giving attention to appearance

• Workouts are completed to change the body’s appearance rather than to improve fitness or athletic ability

• Dieting and taking supplements are common

• A good proportion of income is spent on exercise, supplements and other aspects of working out

• Attempts to change the body have resulted in adverse health symptoms

Bigorexia Is on the Rise

While plenty of attention has been given to women and the pressure to be thin thanks to media portrayals of the ideal body, men have largely been ignored in this respect. Hollywood beauties are praised for their thin frames, but men in movies are big and muscular, while also being lean. Few talk about the effort that goes into looking that way, how actors’ bodies are altered by computer-generated images, or how these images impact ordinary men. The phenomenon of bigorexia is growing and more men are suffering the consequences. These include disordered eating, loss of social life and relationships, injuries, drug abuse and addiction.

Getting Help

If you or someone you care about exhibits signs of bigorexia, it’s time to face the facts. It is a real disorder and it is harmful. Although attention paid to bigorexia has been limited, there are experts available to help who have experience in counseling people with body dysmorphic disorders. Seek help and learn to live with a healthy body image before the consequences get too out of hand.

By: Mary Ellen Ellis