Subtype of the obsessive mental disorder body dysmorphic disorder
Medical condition
Muscle dysmorphia
Muscle dysmorphia is a subtype of the obsessive mental disorder body dysmorphic disorder, but is often also grouped with eating disorders.[1][2] In muscle dysmorphia, which is sometimes called "bigorexia", "megarexia", or "reverse anorexia", the delusional or exaggerated belief is 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][3]
Muscle dysmorphia affects mostly men, particularly those involved in sports where body size or weight are competitive factors, becoming rationales to gain muscle or become leaner.[3] The quest to seemingly fix one's body consumes inordinate time, attention, and resources, as on exercise routines, dietary regimens, and nutritional supplementation, while use of anabolic steroids is also common.[1][3] Other body-dysmorphic preoccupations that are not muscle-dysmorphic are usually present as well.[1]
Although likened to anorexia nervosa,[2][4] muscle dysmorphia is especially difficult to recognize, since awareness of it is scarce and persons experiencing muscle dysmorphia typically remain healthy looking.[3] The distress and distraction of muscle dysmorphia may provoke absences from school, work, and social settings.[1][5] Compared to other body dysmorphic disorders, rates of suicide attempts are especially high with muscle dysmorphia.[1] Researchers believe that muscle dysmorphia's incidence is rising, partly due to the recent cultural emphasis on muscular male bodies.[3][6]
^ abcdefKatharine A Phillips, Understanding Body Dysmorphic Disorder: An Essential Guide (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009), pp 50–51.
^ abLee F Monaghan & Michael Atkinson, Challenging Myths of Masculinity: Understanding Physical Cultures (Surrey: Ashgate Publishing, 2014), p 86.
^ abcdeJames E Leone, Edward J Sedory & Kimberly A Gray, "Recognition and treatment of muscle dysmorphia and related body image disorders", Journal of Athletic Training, 2005 Oct–Dec;40(4):352–359.
^Anthony J Cortese, Provocateur: Image of Women and Minorities in Advertising, 4th edn (London: Rowman & Littlefield, 2016), p 94.
^Anonymous webpage author, "Muscle dysmorphia", McCallum Place website, visited 21 May 2016.
^Harrison G Pope Jr, Katharine A Phillips & Roberto Olivardia, The Adonis Complex: The Secret Crisis of Male Body Obsession (New York: Free Press, 2000) pp 156, 160,197.
Muscledysmorphia is a subtype of the obsessive mental disorder body dysmorphic disorder, but is often also grouped with eating disorders. In muscle dysmorphia...
during adolescence and affects both men and women. The BDD subtype muscledysmorphia, perceiving the body as too small, affects mostly males. In addition...
Beefcake Body image Exercise physiology Health club Lean body mass Muscledysmorphia Physical exercise Physical fitness Power training Sports medicine...
documentary titled Obsessed With My Muscles. In the documentary, he discussed his own issues with muscledysmorphia and interviewed other men who had had...
focuses on self-perceived bodily flaws. Men may also suffer from muscledysmorphia and may incessantly pursue muscularity without ever becoming fully...
Adonis blue, a brilliantly blue colored little butterfly Psychology: Muscledysmorphia, as part of the Adonis Complex Theorizing about Myth: A Jungian interpretation...
secularism, equalities, and human rights. He has stated that he has muscledysmorphia. He endorsed Boris Johnson during the 2019 Conservative Party leadership...
long-term anabolic steroid users were more likely to have symptoms of muscledysmorphia and also showed stronger endorsement of more traditional male roles...
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders Muscledysmorphia Orthorexia nervosa Pro-ana "What are Eating Disorders?". NIMH. Archived...
stroke, hypertension, cardiovascular disease risk, and depression. Muscledysmorphia is characterized by appearance preoccupation that one's own body is...
shown that long term AAS users were more likely to have symptoms of muscledysmorphia and also showed stronger endorsement of more conventional male roles...
28 May 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2010. Lee, Ian. "Muscledysmorphia". askmen.com. Ask Men. "Men muscle in on body image problems". livescience.com. LiveScience...
social pressures to have a certain body build. This is the case with muscledysmorphia, where an athlete wants a more muscular physique for functionality...
2023). "Investigating anabolic-androgenic steroid dependence and muscledysmorphia with network analysis among male weightlifters". BMC Psychiatry. 23...
correction of the area could be a sub-disorder such as anorexia or muscledysmorphia. The increased use of body and facial reshaping applications such...
"The media's representation of the ideal male body: A cause for muscledysmorphia?". International Journal of Eating Disorders. 31 (3): 334–338. doi:10...
MPH Harvard School of Public Health 1974 MD Harvard Medical School Muscledysmorphia, the trauma referred by him as "bigorexia", described in Adonis Complex...
eating disorders. Men with eating disorders are likely to experience muscledysmorphia. Adolescents experience mental illness differently than adults, as...
"The Media's Representation of the Ideal Male Body: A Cause for MuscleDysmorphia?". International Journal of Eating Disorders. 31 (3): 334–338. doi:10...
also been used to help stroke patients regain muscle control, to treat other disorders such as body dysmorphia, and to improve social skills in those diagnosed...
side effects of puberty blockers include headaches, fatigue, insomnia, muscle aches and changes in breast tissue, mood, and weight. Research on the long-term...
personal journey from self-loathing to self-love as she struggled with body dysmorphia and eating disorders in her youth and during her modeling career. Her...
triggered widespread attention and research into eating disorders and body dysmorphia. Interest in her life and death has spawned numerous documentaries and...
occurrences of psychological depression, had attempted suicide, and had body dysmorphia – a type of mental illness wherein she perceives non-existent physical...
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