Muscle dysmorphia, often also known as either bigorexia or reverse anorexia is a recognised mental health condition with some symptoms in common with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa. This disorder affects men and those who are most at risk are those working in environments where weight, image and appearance is an important factor such as modeling, acting and especially body-building.
Causes of Muscle Dysmorphia
Unfortunately there still remains much unknown about muscle dysmorphia, as much of the research studies relating to eating disorders or body image problems have tended to focus on both anorexia and bulimia nervosa. However, there is some evidence to suggest that as with triggers such as dieting leading to extreme weight loss in anorexia, in muscle dysmporphia exercise addiction is believed to play a role in the development of the condition.
As with mainstream eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorders it is also thought to be the case with body dysmorphia that a combination of factors including bullying, trauma, genetic and biological factors may be responsible. In addition to these factors those who have seen their mother experiencing domestic violence are also at risk.
Muscle Dysmorphia and Co-morbid Conditions
Episodes of clinical depression and anxiety are also a factor where depression may impact as many as 50% of sufferers and anxiety disorder may affect approximately one third of muscle dysmorphia sufferers. In addition the disorder may overlap with both anabolic steroid abuse as well as anorexia and bulimia nervosa.
What Treatment is Available For Muscle Dysmorphia?
Treatment for muscle dysmorphia may likely include psycho-education as it is important for those affected to understand how they have come to use the disorder (in the same way as anorexics and bulimics) to cope with another problem in their life. Those treating sufferers require the same level of patience and understanding necessary to help anorexics cope with the immense difficulty of weight restoration to support muscle dysmorphia sufferers who are likely to find facing recovery just as hard.
Although very little research has been undertaken in terms of treatment issues many therapists advocate the same approaches as those currently used to treat anorexia and bulimia. Such treatments typically involve the following: a care team approach, individual/group therapy (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy, cognitive analytic therapy, family therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy), nutritional support and medication to treat associated anxiety and depression.
Clearly, there still remains much unknown about muscle dysmorphia and as a result more research studies are required in this area. Until such research is undertaken it is important to help those affected using the same means as those which have proven to be effective forms of treatment for both anorexia and bulimia.
Source:
Morgan, J. (2008) The Invisible Man East Sussex: Routledge
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
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