Muscle dysmorphia
Encyclopedia
Muscle dysmorphia or bigorexia (in Spanish and Portuguese vigorexia) is a disorder
in which a person becomes obsessed with the idea that he or she is not muscular enough. Those who suffer from muscle dysmorphia tend to hold delusions that they are "skinny" or "too small" but are often above average in musculature. Sometimes referred to as reverse anorexia nervosa
, or the Alanis Complex, muscle dysmorphia is a very specific type of body dysmorphic disorder
.
In this disorder a person is preoccupied with thoughts concerning appearance, especially musculature. Muscle dysmorphia is strictly connected with selective attention: individuals selectively focus their attention on perceived defect (too skinny body, underweight etc.). They are hypervigilant to even small deviations from perceived ideal and they ignore information that their body image is not consistent with reality.
There is also a hypothesis that individuals repeat negative and distorted self-statements concerning their appearance to such extent that they become automatic. Muscle dysmorphia influences person's mood often causing depression or feelings of disgust. This is often connected with constant comparing of a person's body to unattainable ideal.
To be diagnosed as muscle dysmorphic, the person must exhibit symptoms of the type and degree outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for body dysmorphic disorder, and not merely appear over-interested in physique or engage in behaviors other people would find unwise. Muscle dysmorphia is becoming more common as societal pressures regarding male body image become more prominent to today's youth, but is not just a simple obsession with working out.
Muscle dysmorphia is most common in males and often starts in the late teens, although sometimes, they can be older. Olivardia and others found in a 2000 study that the average onset age was 19.4 years. It most often occurs in those who are already considered by others to be muscular and is often accompanied by depression
.
There are also a few different hypotheses regarding the origins of muscle dysmorphia. The cognitive explanation is one of the most common theories. It searches for possible causes of the disorder in a cognitive vicious circle
of dysfunctional thoughts. When a person has a negative appraisal of internal body image, it influences the external representation of appearance. That triggers processing self as an aesthetic object which results in negative internal body image. To sum up: people are not only sensitive to bodily cues, but also threatened by them. In people vulnerable to somatoform disorders it can imply an over interpretation of bodily imperfections.
The psychodynamic explanation states that these are unresolved conflicts from childhood and extremely difficult feelings that are responsible for the disorder. The disorder provides a means for people to express their emotions that otherwise would be too difficult to express. In this case emotions are converted into more tolerable physical symptoms. The purpose of such conversion is to communicate extreme feelings in 'physical language'. Therefore a preoccupation with musculature could be treated as an individual's unconscious displacement of sexual or emotional conflict (or feelings of guilt, or even poor self-image).
According to the biological explanation a serotonin
irregularity is mostly responsible for the disorder.
Finally, the cognitive-behavioral explanation combines a few approaches. It states that the responsibility for muscle dysmorphia is shared by: cultural factors, biological predispositions, psychological vulnerabilities and early childhood experiences. Cultural factors manifest themselves in an exaggerated emphasis on appearance, physical strength and attractiveness. People compare themselves with others and even little deviations from the pattern perceived as ideal lead to extremely negative appraisals. In his 2000 book The Adonis Complex for example, the Harvard psychiatrist Harrison "Skip" Pope Jr. argues that muscle dysmorphia is fueled by the portrayal of overly fit characters of unattainable musculature in children's cartoons, such as G.I. Joe
. Next, some people are biologically predisposed to a constant drive for perfection. Psychological vulnerability is mostly based on low self-esteem. Childhood experiences connected with the disorder are: disharmonious family background, bullying, teasing. This may produce feelings of being unloved, insecure and rejected.
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
in which a person becomes obsessed with the idea that he or she is not muscular enough. Those who suffer from muscle dysmorphia tend to hold delusions that they are "skinny" or "too small" but are often above average in musculature. Sometimes referred to as reverse anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Although commonly called "anorexia", that term on its own denotes any symptomatic loss of appetite and is not strictly accurate...
, or the Alanis Complex, muscle dysmorphia is a very specific type of body dysmorphic disorder
Body dysmorphic disorder
Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a type of mental illness, a somatoform disorder, wherein the affected person is exclusively concerned with body image, manifested as excessive concern about and preoccupation with a perceived defect of his or her physical features...
.
In this disorder a person is preoccupied with thoughts concerning appearance, especially musculature. Muscle dysmorphia is strictly connected with selective attention: individuals selectively focus their attention on perceived defect (too skinny body, underweight etc.). They are hypervigilant to even small deviations from perceived ideal and they ignore information that their body image is not consistent with reality.
There is also a hypothesis that individuals repeat negative and distorted self-statements concerning their appearance to such extent that they become automatic. Muscle dysmorphia influences person's mood often causing depression or feelings of disgust. This is often connected with constant comparing of a person's body to unattainable ideal.
Diagnosis
Muscle dysmorphia can cause people to:- Constantly examine themselves in a mirror
- Frequently compare themselves with others
- Hate their reflections
- Become distressed if they miss a workout session or one of their many meals a day
- Become distressed if they do not receive enough proteinProteinProteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
per day in their diet - Use anabolic steroidAnabolic steroidAnabolic steroids, technically known as anabolic-androgen steroids or colloquially simply as "steroids", are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the body. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue ,...
s, sometimes unsafely - Neglect jobs, relationships, or family because of excessive exercising
- Have delusions of being underweight or below average in musculature.
- In extreme cases, inject appendages with fluid (e.g. synthol)
- Suffers from constant mood swings
- In extreme cases, being grumpy and short tempered
To be diagnosed as muscle dysmorphic, the person must exhibit symptoms of the type and degree outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for body dysmorphic disorder, and not merely appear over-interested in physique or engage in behaviors other people would find unwise. Muscle dysmorphia is becoming more common as societal pressures regarding male body image become more prominent to today's youth, but is not just a simple obsession with working out.
Muscle dysmorphia is most common in males and often starts in the late teens, although sometimes, they can be older. Olivardia and others found in a 2000 study that the average onset age was 19.4 years. It most often occurs in those who are already considered by others to be muscular and is often accompanied by depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
.
Causes
There are a few possible risk factors which contribute to this disorder: bullying/teasing during the school period, family disharmony, perfectionism, severe stress, aesthetic focus and negative influence of mass culture that promotes an idealized body.There are also a few different hypotheses regarding the origins of muscle dysmorphia. The cognitive explanation is one of the most common theories. It searches for possible causes of the disorder in a cognitive vicious circle
Vicious Circle
Vicious Circle is an album released in 1994 by L.A. Guns. Most of the songs have Phil Lewis on lead vocals, but the track "Nothing Better to Do" features Kelly Nickels on lead vocals, and "Tarantula" is instrumental. MC Bones drums on several songs. Lewis and Bones also played together in the band...
of dysfunctional thoughts. When a person has a negative appraisal of internal body image, it influences the external representation of appearance. That triggers processing self as an aesthetic object which results in negative internal body image. To sum up: people are not only sensitive to bodily cues, but also threatened by them. In people vulnerable to somatoform disorders it can imply an over interpretation of bodily imperfections.
The psychodynamic explanation states that these are unresolved conflicts from childhood and extremely difficult feelings that are responsible for the disorder. The disorder provides a means for people to express their emotions that otherwise would be too difficult to express. In this case emotions are converted into more tolerable physical symptoms. The purpose of such conversion is to communicate extreme feelings in 'physical language'. Therefore a preoccupation with musculature could be treated as an individual's unconscious displacement of sexual or emotional conflict (or feelings of guilt, or even poor self-image).
According to the biological explanation a serotonin
Serotonin
Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter. Biochemically derived from tryptophan, serotonin is primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract, platelets, and in the central nervous system of animals including humans...
irregularity is mostly responsible for the disorder.
Finally, the cognitive-behavioral explanation combines a few approaches. It states that the responsibility for muscle dysmorphia is shared by: cultural factors, biological predispositions, psychological vulnerabilities and early childhood experiences. Cultural factors manifest themselves in an exaggerated emphasis on appearance, physical strength and attractiveness. People compare themselves with others and even little deviations from the pattern perceived as ideal lead to extremely negative appraisals. In his 2000 book The Adonis Complex for example, the Harvard psychiatrist Harrison "Skip" Pope Jr. argues that muscle dysmorphia is fueled by the portrayal of overly fit characters of unattainable musculature in children's cartoons, such as G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier , Action Sailor , Action Pilot , Action Marine and later on, the Action Nurse...
. Next, some people are biologically predisposed to a constant drive for perfection. Psychological vulnerability is mostly based on low self-esteem. Childhood experiences connected with the disorder are: disharmonious family background, bullying, teasing. This may produce feelings of being unloved, insecure and rejected.
Treatment
- New friends
- Love and the feeling of being accepted
- Pharmacotherapy
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Behavioral therapy
- Cognitive therapy (mostly cognitive restructuring)
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- The largest impediment to finding help is the reluctance to admit a problem. According to the book "The Adonis Complex: The Secret Crisis of Male Body Obsession", all solutions must come from an admittance of the problem.