muscle dysmorphia

8/12/2019 Muscle Dysmorphia

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Muscle Dysphoria

By UNIV 200 Student, Joel Person

What is Muscle Dysmorphia?

Muscle Dysmorphia also known as reverse anorexia or bigorexia, is a type of health disorder

that typically affects males. It is categorized under the body dysmorphic spectrum where those

afflicted have trouble seeing their body for what it actually is. A person with muscle dysmorphia

sees their body as inadequately muscular and is pre-occupied with making their body bigger,

stronger, and leanerDESPITE the fact that they are more muscular than the average person.

Although it is classified as a type of body dysmorphic disorder, it is similar to other disorders

such as anorexia, bulimia, and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Diagnostic Criteria for Muscle Dysmorphia

1. The individual is obsessed with the belief that his or her body should be more lean and

muscular. A significant amount of time devoted to weight lifting and fixation on ones diet is

common.

2. At least 2 of the following 4 criteria should be met:

a. The uncontrollable focus on pursuing the usual training regimen causes the person to miss out

on career, social, and other activities.

b. Circumstances involving body exposure are preferably avoided; if avoidance is not possible,

significant unease and worry occur.

c. Performance in the work and social arenas is affected by the presumed body deficiencies.

d. The potentially detrimental effects of the training regimen fail to discourage the individual

from pursuing hazardous practices.

3. Unlike anorexia nervosa, in which the person is concerned about being overweight, or other

types of body dysmorphic disorder in which the concern is with other physical aspects, the

individual with muscle dysmorphia believes that his or her body is insufficiently small or

muscular (Leone).

Profile

Carrey Rossi cited in her 2005 magazine article fromJoe Weiders Muscle & Fitnessa profilefrom the American Journal of Psychiatry by Olivardia et al.:

Normalweightlifters MenwithMuscleDysmorphiaWorkedoutbecauseitmadethemfeelhealthy,theyenjoyedit,andtheythoughtitimprovedtheirappearance

Noenjoymentinworkingout.Theironlypleasurecamefromthefactthattheyfeltliketheygotbiggerthatday

Didntstressoutiftheymissedaworkout WorkoutroutineinterferedwithlifeWorkoutroutinedidnotinterferewiththeirsociallives,relationships,orjobs AmissedworkoutmeantlifeordeathWorkoutwaspartoftheirdailyroutine Workoutwasadominantpartofdailyroutine


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Are you at risk?

After reading through this article you might sit and think to yourself Am I at risk? Do you

have a healthy habit with a goal in mind that you are dedicated to reach or are you mindlessly

working your body through harmful exercise habits and routines? Ask yourself these questions

from this 2003Joe Weiders Muscle & Fitnessmagazine article by Claps:

Do you work out even when youre ill or injured? Do you place your workouts above family or occupational obligations? Does missing a workout send you into an abyss of guilt? Are you ever satisfied with how you look? Do you constantly worry about how other people may perceive your body?


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Works Cited

Claps, Frank. "Bigorexia -- When A Healthy Habit Turns Bad." Joe Weider's Muscle &

Fitness64.5 (2003): 45. SPORTDiscus. Web. 6 Dec. 2012.

Leone, James E., Edward J. Sedory, and Kimberly A. Gray. "Recognition And Treatment OfMuscle Dysmorphia And Related Body Image Disorders."Journal of Athletic

Training40.4 (2005): 352-359. SPORTDiscus. Web. 22 Nov. 2012.

Rossi, Carey. "Split Image."Joe Weider's Muscle & Fitness66.9 (2005): 234. SPORTDiscus.

Web. 22 Nov. 2012.


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Complete Works Cited for Paper

Bailey, Rob. "I'm Still Skinny!."Men's Fitness26.10 (2010): 94-97.SPORTDiscus. Web. 22

Nov. 2012.

Bell, Chris, dir.Bigger, Stonger, Faster. Perf. Chris Bell. Magnolia Pictures, 2008. DVD.

Garcia, Yolanda De la Garza, et al. "Muscle Dysmorphia And The DSM-V Conundrum: Where

Does It Belong? A Review Paper."International Journal Of Eating Disorders43.6

(2010): 483-491.Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Nov. 2012.

Grieve, Frederick G., Natalie Truba, and Sandy Bowersox. "Etiology, Assessment, And

Treatment Of Muscle Dysmorphia."Journal Of Cognitive Psychotherapy23.4 (2009):

306-314.Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Nov. 2012.

Leit, R.A., J.J. Gray, and H.G. Pope Jr. "The Media's Representation Of The Ideal Male Body: A

Cause For Muscle Dysmorphia?."International Journal Of Eating Disorders31.3(2002): 334-338. SPORTDiscus. Web. 17 Nov. 2012.

Leone, James E., Edward J. Sedory, and Kimberly A. Gray. "Recognition And Treatment Of

Muscle Dysmorphia And Related Body Image Disorders."Journal Of Athletic

Training40.4 (2005): 352-359. SPORTDiscus. Web. 22 Nov. 2012.

Rossi, Carey. "Split Image."Joe Weider's Muscle & Fitness66.9 (2005): 234. SPORTDiscus.

Web. 22 Nov. 2012.

Vandereycken, Walter. "Media Hype, Diagnostic Fad Or Genuine Disorder? Professionals'

Opinions About Night Eating Syndrome, Orthorexia, Muscle Dysmorphia, AndEmetophobia."Eating Disorders19.2 (2011): 145-155. SPORTDiscus. Web. 17 Nov.

2012.

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