Bigorexia, also known as muscle dysphoria, is a condition in which a person feels unhappy with their body and believes they are too thin or not muscular enough, even when they have well-developed muscles.
People with bigorexia may exercise excessively, follow strict diets, or use anabolic steroids to increase muscle size. These behaviors can lead to serious health problems.
Treatment for bigorexia may involve a team of healthcare professionals, including a psychologist, registered dietitian, and fitness professional. Treatment aims to improve body image, reduce unhealthy behaviors, and promote a healthier lifestyle.
Bigorexia meaning
Bigorexia is a type of body dysmorphic disorder that affects how a person sees their own body. It causes a distorted perception of muscle size and can make it difficult to recognize changes in physical appearance.
This condition can affect self-esteem, daily activities, and relationships, as thoughts about muscle size and body image may take up a large part of a person's day.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of bigorexia are:
- Dissatisfaction with one's own body, with the person sometimes not recognizing their appearance in the mirror;
- Intense and excessive physical activity;
- Feelings of inferiority related to dissatisfaction with the body;
- Persistent muscle pain throughout the body;
- Excessive fatigue;
- Irritability;
- Depression;
- Insomnia;
- Loss of interest in activities unrelated to exercise;
- Reduced sexual performance.
People with bigorexia often follow a very restrictive diet, consume excessive amounts of protein, including protein supplements, and use anabolic steroids.
They may also spend hours at the gym and continually increase the amount of weight used during exercise.
Possible causes
Bigorexia is a mental health condition that may be linked to changes in dopamine and serotonin, brain chemicals involved in mood, pleasure, and motivation.
This condition may also be related to low self-esteem, a desire for acceptance, and the belief that a strong, muscular body is the ideal body type. As a result, people may become overly focused on exercise and diet to achieve their desired appearance.
It may also occur alongside orthorexia, an unhealthy obsession with eating healthy or "pure" foods. People with orthorexia may follow very strict diets and avoid certain foods or entire food groups because they believe these foods are unhealthy.
Treatment options
Treatment for bigorexia involves a multidisciplinary team that may include a doctor, psychologist, registered dietitian, and fitness professional.
1. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is an important part of bigorexia treatment because it can help the person accept their body as it is and improve self-esteem.
2. Nutritional counseling
Nutritional counseling is a fundamental part of treatment for bigorexia. A registered dietitian can assess the person's nutritional needs and adjust their diet so that health and fitness goals can be pursued safely.
In addition, discontinuing the use of anabolic steroids and unnecessary protein supplements may be recommended.
3. Medications
In some cases, medications that affect serotonin levels may be recommended to help manage depression, anxiety, and other symptoms related to obsessive-compulsive behavior.
Also recommended: Serotonin: Uses, Functions, Low vs High & How to Boost tuasaude.com/en/serotonin4. Supervised exercise
Physical exercise does not need to be stopped. However, it should be performed under the guidance of a qualified fitness professional so that it is done safely and without excessive training.
Possible complications
Bigorexia can lead to health complications such as:
- Kidney failure;
- Liver failure;
- Circulatory problems;
- Anxiety and depression;
- Increased risk of prostate cancer;
- Testicular shrinkage, which can affect male fertility.
Complications of bigorexia are mainly associated with the frequent and prolonged use of anabolic steroid hormones and protein supplements.
