Muscle Dysmorphia/Bigorexia

What is muscle dysmorphia?

Muscle dysmorphia is often referred to as Biorexia. This is a condition recently observed by psychiatrics as the ‘opposite of anorexia’. It is not however a condition that can yet be formerly diagnosed as there are currently no clinical guidelines in place.

Muscle dysmorphia is a condition characterized by an intense worry that they are too small or under developed. Patients (commonly men and typically bodybuilders) actually perceive themselves through a distorted ‘lens’ and develop an obsession about ‘physical inadequacies’).

This condition is not as life threatening as anorexia is, however inflicted individuals prone to taking other risks with their health, for example excessive use of steroids or other bodybuilding drugs. A high protein diet combined with steroid use can cause onset of kidney failure and almost certainly hospitalization.

Social influences

Muscle dysmorphia is being seen more frequently. This is believed to be due to the increase in pressure by society for mainly ‘men’ (but also women) to look muscular and fit, in films and television programmes men are more frequently portrayed as ‘larger than life’. There is also hype in fitness suits about pectorals, equipment to improve certain muscle groups. It would be easy for someone to become ‘hooked’ on building muscle mass as training progresses, in the same way individuals become ‘hooked’ on dieting as restricted food progresses.

Gaining muscle mass usually creates a desire for more muscle mass accompanied by a feeling that they would look better with yet bigger, more defined muscles. Again this is comparable to anorexia as in the same respect, losing a goal weight usually instigates further weight loss.

Some researchers have put together a set of criteria for the diagnosis of muscle dysmorphia:

The person is preoccupied with the idea that their body is not lean and muscular. They spend long hours lifting weights and pay excessive attention to diet. This preoccupation causes major distress or impairs the person's social or professional life. The person may forego important social, work-related or recreational activities. They may avoid situations where their body will be exposed. The person continues to work out or diet even when they know it could hurt their health or well-being. The focus of the person's concerns is on being too small or not muscular enough, as opposed to concerns about being fat.

Treatment for bigorexia

It is firstly important to pinpint the underlying issues with the disorder. Also to educate the individuals of the damage they are inflicting upon their body is important.

As far as medication goes, not enough research has been carried out into the clinical reasoning (such as chemical or hormonal imbalances) for the disorder, thus no medication can yet be prescribed. Muscle dysmorphia has however been linked to ADHD as well and stress, anxiety and depression. Medication for these issues may have a knock on effect on the muscle dysmorphia symptoms. Upon assessment, a physician may prescribe anti depressants to see if symptoms decrease, they also may be used in combination with counselling and other therapies.

Gym fanatics are not necessarily sufferers of muscle dysmorphia; it develops into dangers behaviours where the sufferer is willing to go to extreme lengths in order to increase their muscle size. Muscle dysmorphia is similar to anorexia in the sense that it takes over one’s life. The individual is consumed with thought of muscle mass, as an anorexic person is constantly thinking of weight loss. They are both disorders involving preoccupations with body image.

Treatment for this disorder (that has only been in circulation and research for about a decade) has not been ascertained as far as developing empirical knowledge on what treatment is more successful. However realising that it is in fact a mental disorder centred around appearance that shares characteristics of anorexia, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), group therapy and other types of counselling can thus be effective in treatment.

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