Bigorexia - what is muscle dysmorphia?
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I like how men get a different, special name for body dysmorphia.0
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It's not a different name for men. Women can have that issue, too. There are even a few male anorexics. Men tend to have the muscle issue and women tend to be the starving ones, but the names for their problems aren't gender-specific.I like how men get a different, special name for body dysmorphia.
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I've just finished my MSc in Psychology and studied eating disorders as part of it. Our one lecturer worked in an ED clinic and told us that they are seeing a lot more men with this and it's something that we needed to be aware of as a real, and dangerous condition. I suspect naming it specifically has to do with diagnostic and treatment needs.0
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ManiacalLaugh wrote: »So, are men now susceptible to the same pressure to look a certain way as women? Is this a thing?
"We're seeing an increased pressure on men to look muscular, create a 'V' shape and have a six pack.”
I definitely know this is a thing, but I'm also absolutely certain this is not limited to men. In a personal training session, my trainer went through her phone and picked out several images of extremely lean and muscular women. She was attempting to show me the extremes a woman has to go through to get her body to look like they look. They were all personal friends of hers and they were all professional fitness models.
The routines of all those women border on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, at the very least. Gym every day for hours and hours - no skipping, unless they're on their deathbeds. Meals that have been precisely planned. Absolutely no time for family (because that either presents a meal they can't eat or time away from working out), and any time with friends has to be centered around exercise of some form. And yes, steroids are a thing, even for fitness models.
A couple of her friends quit and "went soft" (i.e. 10% body fat, the horror), just because they wanted to do more in life than focus on their bodies 24/7.
Well if they're getting paid for it I guess it could be a job and not a mental health issue. After all, a job is something distasteful to most of us, and we obsessively do it 40 hours a week, sometimes more.
I hope it pays well so they can enjoy an early retirement, seems to me most fitness models won't be able to keep it up long. They usually look about 20 in those photos.
Except, unlike other jobs, they didn't begin those crazy routines to obtain employment as a fitness model. They gained employment as a fitness model because they were doing those crazy routines.0 -
It's not a different name for men. Women can have that issue, too. There are even a few male anorexics. Men tend to have the muscle issue and women tend to be the starving ones, but the names for their problems aren't gender-specific.I like how men get a different, special name for body dysmorphia.
If there's no difference according to gender, then why change the name from muscle dysmorphia to bigorexia?0 -
It's not a different name for men. Women can have that issue, too. There are even a few male anorexics. Men tend to have the muscle issue and women tend to be the starving ones, but the names for their problems aren't gender-specific.I like how men get a different, special name for body dysmorphia.
If there's no difference according to gender, then why change the name from muscle dysmorphia to bigorexia?
Maybe because it gets the point across without requiring any further explanation? I don't understand why this is an issue.0 -
VykkDraygoVPR wrote: »
It's not a different name for men. Women can have that issue, too. There are even a few male anorexics. Men tend to have the muscle issue and women tend to be the starving ones, but the names for their problems aren't gender-specific.I like how men get a different, special name for body dysmorphia.
If there's no difference according to gender, then why change the name from muscle dysmorphia to bigorexia?
Maybe because it gets the point across without requiring any further explanation? I don't understand why this is an issue.
because there is no reason for it as they are both body dsymorphia0 -
It's not a different name for men. Women can have that issue, too. There are even a few male anorexics. Men tend to have the muscle issue and women tend to be the starving ones, but the names for their problems aren't gender-specific.I like how men get a different, special name for body dysmorphia.
If there's no difference according to gender, then why change the name from muscle dysmorphia to bigorexia?
As dumb as the name is, I might agree with the poster who said differentiating between the two will possibly help narrow down treatment and make it a clearer diagnosis.
On the other hand, it might just be one of those really weird names the media comes up with to make things "catchier".
ETA: and while the article did focus on men (because the author thinks they're apparently the only gender to lift, I guess? O_o), as I said in a previous post, this is definitely a thing for women too.0 -
VykkDraygoVPR wrote: »
It's not a different name for men. Women can have that issue, too. There are even a few male anorexics. Men tend to have the muscle issue and women tend to be the starving ones, but the names for their problems aren't gender-specific.I like how men get a different, special name for body dysmorphia.
If there's no difference according to gender, then why change the name from muscle dysmorphia to bigorexia?
Maybe because it gets the point across without requiring any further explanation? I don't understand why this is an issue.
because there is no reason for it as they are both body dsymorphia
There's also no reason to complain about it. It's a "catchy" way to word it and help raise awareness. I don't see the point in getting worked up about it.
Now, if you want to call shenanigans on something like "manorexia," then by all means, do so. Everyone knows what anorexia is. Most people will have NO CLUE what body dysmorphia is, let alone muscle dysmorphia. Bigorexia at least gives an understandable subtext, and it is applicable to male and female.0 -
VykkDraygoVPR wrote: »VykkDraygoVPR wrote: »
It's not a different name for men. Women can have that issue, too. There are even a few male anorexics. Men tend to have the muscle issue and women tend to be the starving ones, but the names for their problems aren't gender-specific.I like how men get a different, special name for body dysmorphia.
If there's no difference according to gender, then why change the name from muscle dysmorphia to bigorexia?
Maybe because it gets the point across without requiring any further explanation? I don't understand why this is an issue.
because there is no reason for it as they are both body dsymorphia
There's also no reason to complain about it. It's a "catchy" way to word it and help raise awareness. I don't see the point in getting worked up about it.
Now, if you want to call shenanigans on something like "manorexia," then by all means, do so. Everyone knows what anorexia is. Most people will have NO CLUE what body dysmorphia is, let alone muscle dysmorphia. Bigorexia at least gives an understandable subtext, and it is applicable to male and female.
Wow! That didn't take long to go off topic. I guess the word used is more important than the actual problem?
Anyway, I definitely agree that body dysmorphia (or whatever name gives you the biggest warm and fuzzy) is a growing problem for men. It's not just being "big" either. It's also about being "cut" and/or having a six pack.
I could see myself going down this road in the past. However, I believe there is a difference between having a goal that you strive for in a healthy way and being obsessed about meeting that goal at any cost. Usually the cost is the deterioration of your physical, mental and social well being.0 -
It's not a different name for men. Women can have that issue, too. There are even a few male anorexics. Men tend to have the muscle issue and women tend to be the starving ones, but the names for their problems aren't gender-specific.I like how men get a different, special name for body dysmorphia.
If there's no difference according to gender, then why change the name from muscle dysmorphia to bigorexia?
Bigorexia is a colloquial name for it because muscle dysmorphia is burdensome to say in common speech, and the problem is growing to the point that it is discussed by more than just psychology professionals. No one is changing the clinical name, anymore than people using schizo changes complex diagnosis like schizophrenic paranoia.
The problem with either colloquialism is that it means more people might be inclined to amateur diagnose people, or otherwise use it pejoratively on people.0 -
It's not a different name for men. Women can have that issue, too. There are even a few male anorexics. Men tend to have the muscle issue and women tend to be the starving ones, but the names for their problems aren't gender-specific.I like how men get a different, special name for body dysmorphia.
If there's no difference according to gender, then why change the name from muscle dysmorphia to bigorexia?
Bigorexia is a colloquial name for it because muscle dysmorphia is burdensome to say in common speech, and the problem is growing to the point that it is discussed by more than just psychology professionals. No one is changing the clinical name, anymore than people using schizo changes complex diagnosis like schizophrenic paranoia.
The problem with either colloquialism is that it means more people might be inclined to amateur diagnose people, or otherwise use it pejoratively on people.
Not to mention the general disbelief by those who haven't heard the term before. I didn't believe it was real, either.
I wouldn't be surprised if saying 'I have bigorexia' gets laughs in many circles just because the term sounds ridiculous.0 -
It's not a different name for men. Women can have that issue, too. There are even a few male anorexics. Men tend to have the muscle issue and women tend to be the starving ones, but the names for their problems aren't gender-specific.I like how men get a different, special name for body dysmorphia.
If there's no difference according to gender, then why change the name from muscle dysmorphia to bigorexia?
I'm not sure that the name has been changed. I think "bigorexia" is less of a technical term and more of a slang one.
It's not replacing BDD, it's just a subtype. Subtypes are helpful because if you just say BDD, nobody is sure what type. They're also extremely helpful if you wish to get paid, because most payment comes from insurance companies and they demand labels.
All that said, the term "bigorexia" is not male-specific, per se.
I really hope that the armchair psychiatrists don't start diagnosing everyone on the boards who picks up a weight with muscle dysmorphia. It's bad enough that so many people are incorrectly diagnosing others with EDs. Although sites like this will draw muscle dysmorphics and anorexics, most people who diet and/or lift weights do not necessarily have a mental illness...and it cannot be diagnosed online, even by real psychiatrists, so I hope we all leave that alone.0 -
I think it's important to make the distinction that NOT ALL fitness models or competitors have body dysmorphia just because their priorities and workout/diet/lifestyle isn't considered the norm. There are life trade-offs to look a certain way, and while I'm sure some competitors are also disordered, equating the lifestyle or the two isn't fair to the industry or the mentally healthy within it.0
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Sarah4fitness wrote: »I think it's important to make the distinction that NOT ALL fitness models or competitors have body dysmorphia just because their priorities and workout/diet/lifestyle isn't considered the norm. There are life trade-offs to look a certain way, and while I'm sure some competitors are also disordered, equating the lifestyle or the two isn't fair to the industry or the mentally healthy within it.
True. Most people that are into fitness are not. Even the ones who may appear obsessive to a lay person. However, I think it's a positive to have a general awareness of it, but a mental health professional is the one who is qualified to make the distinction.0 -
I've talked about the muscle issue with exactly two people who had it, but I've spent more hours than I could count with anorexics.Yes, it is a real thing. No, they don't see themselves as small any more than anorexics see themselves as fat. These people aren't delusional. I wish the articles and textbooks would refrain from saying these people see themselves incorrectly. There are problems with seeing their body, but the anorexics don't see an obese person in the mirror and the muscle dysmorphics don't see a scrawny person. They just obsess.
What they see is "not good enough." Not thin enough, even when they're too thin. Not muscular enough, even when they're quite muscular. Anorexics have to lose more. Muscle dysmorphics have to gain more. And more is never enough. It always has to be a little more.
There are many different psychological reasons and each person has their own, unique ones. A lot of times, it stems from insecurity and control issues. These two issues - anorexia and muscle dysmorphia - are very much two sides of the same coin.
Everyone who lifts weights is not a muscle dysmorphic, just like everyone who diets is not an anorexic. But it is a real thing.
Interesting perspective but on what are you basing your comments about they don't actually see themselves as "small" in their perception? Is it based on research you have come across or anecdotal experience
I'm not saying you are wrong but thinking back across many years in various weight rooms I can think of at least a couple of conversations I have had where guys have alluded to the fact not that they felt small but they were small even when they were far more muscular than me. I dismissed it at the time.
Both the muscle guys I talked to in depth were former addicts. They had quit the drugs/alcohol, but channeled that addictive personality into weight lifting. I had an argument - not a heated emotional, volatile argument, but a disagreement - with a psychiatrist about whether we should be discouraging it, lol. If someone has that personality, I am of the opinion that the weight lifting is better than the drugs, so remind them not to start taking drugs, as so many with muscle dysmorphia do, and leave it be. The other guy was of the opinion that both were bad and should be discouraged. He was young and had higher hopes than I do, thinking everyone can be totally fixed. Maybe his idealism is the better outlook than my more jaded one. He could be right.
The textbooks are full of that picture of the anorexic who sees an obese person in the mirror. Never have I met a single anorexic who didn't know that Yeah, she was thin. Former anorexics will say that they didn't really realize how bad and sickly they looked, because they were so focused on the 2 ounces of fat, but none thought they were overweight.
They aren't delusional, they're obsessed.
It's all just something to focus on. They focus on losing weight or gaining muscle because there is other stuff they aren't dealing with or part of their personality needs to obsess.
The anorexics have the additional problem of having a brain that isn't being fueled properly and cannot think clearly, so it's a struggle.
Nobody spends much time on the muscle dysmorphia because it's more accepted and death isn't imminent. And the insurance companies aren't going to pay for that! Plus, if you succeed in getting the person to cease the body obsession, what comes next? Booze? Drugs? What? I'm not the only one who thinks, "Leave bad enough alone. Don't make them worse."
I would tend to agree with you here. My mother has battled anorexia on and off for all of my life, she knows she's very thin but still wants to be thinner.
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