Vigorexia
Vigorexia, bigorexia or muscle dysmorphia, is a disorder characterised by an obsession with perceived inadequacy in muscular size and strength. Vigorexia can lead to harmful behaviours such as excessive exercise and steroid abuse. It's important to seek professional help if you or someone you know is showing signs of this disorder.
What Is Vigorexia?
Vigorexia, which is also referred to as bigorexia or muscle dysmorphia is a psychological disorder. People affected by it have an obsessive desire to have a muscular physique. Typically, these people perceive themselves as skinny, although it often does not represent their physical appearance. Such perception of oneself can lead to harmful behaviours like excessive exercising, unhealthy dieting and missuse of supplements or steroids.
One of the hallmarks of vigorexia is the intense fear of being small or weak. This fear can drive individuals with vigorexia to spend excessive amounts of time and energy on weightlifting and other muscle-building activities. In addition to this, it may lead to the implementation of unhealthy diets to enhance muscle growth [1]. Another symptom of vigorexia is dissatisfaction with your own body.
For instance, although an individual may have a muscular physique, it is not muscular “ enough” for someone with vigorexia. Such dissatisfaction may lead to distress and may interfere with a lot of areas of one’s life such as social life, work and others [1].
One case report of a woman with vigorexia, shows the dangers of muscle dysmorphia. The woman with vigorexia reported severe bilateral vision loss after taking niacin supplements for seven years. As she stopped taking these supplements, her vision quickly improved [2]. This is just one example of how vigorexia can affect one's health.
Therefore it is extremely important to take care of yourself and always consult any supplement intake or internal emotions about your body with a medical professional [2].
What Are The Causes Of Vigorexia?
Unfortunately, the exact cause of vigorexia is not understood. However, it is believed to be a multifactorial disorder, involving both psychological and environmental factors.
One potential cause of vigorexia is the societal and cultural pressure. What we often see on social media are people promoting an "ideal" body image, emphasizing muscularity. This then leads to the individuals feeling inadequate if they don’t meet these standards, leading to obsession about their body size and muscularity.
Another potential cause of vigorexia might be low esteem or body dissatisfaction. Individuals with such problems may use bodybuilding or excessive exercise as a way to improve their self-image. If this becomes an unhealthy obsession, it leads to vigorexia.
Excessive perfectionism and competitiveness also contribute to the development of vigorexia and people with these traits may be more likely to develop an obsession with their body size and muscularity.
However, it is likely a combination of all that leads to the development of this disorder. It's recommended that individuals who are concerned about their risk of developing this condition consult with a healthcare provider or a mental health professional. They can provide more personalized advice based on an individual's health history and current situation.
Vigorexia vs Bigorexia
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