Bigorexia: bodybuilding and muscle dysmorphia.

Full Abstract

Muscle dysmorphia is an emerging condition that primarily affects male bodybuilders. Such individuals obsess about being inadequately muscular. Compulsions include spending hours in the gym, squandering excessive amounts of money on ineffectual sports supplements, abnormal eating patterns or even substance abuse. In this essay, I illustrate the features of muscle dysmorphia by employing the first-person account of a male bodybuilder afflicted by this condition. I briefly outline the history of bodybuilding and examine whether the growth of this sport is linked to a growing concern with body image amongst males. I suggest that muscle dysmorphia may be a new expression of a common pathology shared with the eating disorders.

Author information

Author/s: Mosley, Philip E (PE);

Affiliation: Trafford General Hospital, Urmston, Manchester M41 5SL, UK. philmosley(-atsign-)doctors.org.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association (Eur Eat Disord Rev), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-May; vol 17 (issue 3) : pp 191-8

Dates: Created 2009/04/27; Completed 2009/08/04;

PMID: 18759381, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 8/21/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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