Bigorexia is a psychological disorder often closely related to eating habits. Its nature is based on a pathology that creates an excessive and even obsessive concern in the affected person for maintaining their figure and physical appearance. The reason for this is that they suffer from a distortion of their body image; in other words, the individual is unable to see themselves as they truly are. Today we explain in detail what bigorexia is and how its onset and effects can be prevented.
What is bigorexia, the physical exercise disease
This disease is most common in men between the ages of 18 and 35, who typically share a special interest in physical exercise. For them, being physically attractive from the perspective of maintaining their musculature is more than important, and it gradually becomes an irreplaceable need. Consequently, without knowing what bigorexia is, they end up suffering from this disease and experiencing its effects.
This mental disorder is commonly associated with anorexia because it causes the opposite effect of the disease. For this reason, bigorexia is frequently referred to by names such as reverse anorexia or muscle dysmorphia. In fact, this condition is classified as a body dysmorphic disorder linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
People suffering from bigorexia end up obsessing over their physical imperfections and develop a distorted image of themselves. Consequently, they feel an immediate need to remedy this by engaging in sports activities and physical exercise constantly and with increasing frequency. Ultimately, this new habit harms their lifestyle, affecting personal relationships and both their physical and mental health.
What is bigorexia, causes of the disease
To understand exactly what bigorexia is, its causes and how it affects the person suffering from the mental disorder must first be analyzed. Not all patients with this condition experience the same onset or identical symptoms.
The most common causes of bigorexia that a dependent person may develop are:
- Looking in the mirror very frequently and remaining dissatisfied. The individual feels they have not met their aesthetic expectations and becomes obsessed with it because their efforts to change their physical appearance have not borne fruit.
- Checking their weight on the scales several times a day or week. The patient begins to compare themselves with other people, including those they do not know and who practice bodybuilding.
- Certain types of people with problematic behaviors are more likely to develop bigorexia. For example, individuals with obsessive personalities and those who suffer from frequent emotional problems.
- In the youth sphere, minors and adolescents who suffer from bullying due to their physical appearance may end up developing the psychological disorder of muscle dysmorphia.
When bigorexia begins to appear, the person suffering from the disease starts to develop an obsessive-compulsive pattern. Consequently, it is common for them to have recurring negative thoughts about themselves. This can lead to a radical lifestyle change, making the decision to completely abandon their usual daily activities and deciding to invest all of their time in physical exercise.
In a second stage, individuals with this mental disorder decide to follow low-fat diets that are rich in carbohydrates and proteins to increase their muscle mass more quickly. This path can lead to the consumption of substances that are dangerous, such as hormones and anabolic steroids.
What is bigorexia, symptoms of the disease
From the beginning, the patient decides to develop their own training program to meet their aesthetic expectations. This program is characterized by high-intensity and high-strenuousness physical exercises. Normally, weightlifting is the most recurrent activity and the one that occupies most of their time.
By obsessing over trying to change their physical appearance, they end up distancing themselves from their personal relationships, abandoning daily tasks, and ignoring work responsibilities. This leads them to focus all their attention on physical activity and following a nutritional diet suited to their new need. Through this, they try to achieve the elimination of all body fat as quickly as possible to obtain a sculpted body.
How to prevent the disease
Bigorexia is a psychological disorder that affects the individual’s behavior. Therefore, there is no immediate cure or solution beyond awareness, therapy, and re-education.
Some recommendations to avoid the development of bigorexia are:
- When developing a physical exercise program, always have the supervision of a personal trainer.
- Perform regular physical examinations to determine health status, exercise needs, and the individual’s ability to adapt to activities.
- Adapt all physical exercises to the person’s physical condition, avoiding overexertion.
- Stop and cease any physical activity the moment fatigue, exhaustion, and/or excessive muscle pain appear.
CCAdicciones is an addiction and disorder treatment center that can help patients recover from diseases. Request an appointment with our therapists and they will inform you on how to start a rehabilitation process.
