Understanding and Treating Muscle Dysmorphia

Thomas Barwick / Getty ImagBody dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition in which a person becomes fixated on a perceived flaw in their body. Despite gender stereotypes, BDD doesn’t only affect women. Many men develop a subclass of BDD called muscle dysmorphia (MDPeople with MD perceive themselves as less muscular and smaller than they really are. Many people with this condition have a build that’s average or more muscular than average.

MD most commonly affects men, especially men who lift weights or compete in bodybuilding. However, research suggestsTrusted Source that MD is also prevalent among female bodybuildersThere have been relatively few studies on the best way to treat MD, and research is ongoing. Keep reading to find out what science has discovered to datWhat is muscle dysmorphiMD is a mental health condition in which people see their bodies as small and lacking in muscle. People with MD are often considered very muscular by other people, since they routinely engage in muscle-building activities.

The American Psychiatric Association classifies MD as a subclass of BDDTrusted Source. Informally, it’s sometimes referred to as “bigorexia” or “reverse anorexiaThere’s still debate as to whether MD should be considered an eating disorder, a behavioral addiction, or a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder. People with MD often become so preoccupied with their appearance that their lives are centered on building more muscle.

What are the behaviors or symptoms of muscle dysmorphiBehaviors a person with MD may exhibit includeexcessively lifting weighusing anabolic steroorperformance-enhancing avoiding social situations that may draw attention to their body, such as swimming or going to the beavoiding mirrors or excessively checkmirroeating meals in an extremely regimented wkipping social activities to spend more time exePeople with MD often also develop an eating disorder, particorthorexiaTrusted Source. Orthorexia is characterized by an obsession with eating healthy foods. People with orthorexia and those with MD both commonly eat very regimented diets

and become fixated on choosing the perfect foods to the point that it disrupts other aspects of their liveIt’s thought that perfectionism, low self-esteem, and social anxiety may contribute to the development of MDHow is muscle dysmorphia assessFactors that contribute to the development of MD can be assessed with the Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder InventoryTrusted Source. This survey includes 13 questions that can be scored from “never” to “always.”