Bigorexia: When fitness craze can ruin your life

What is bigorexia

Bigorexia is a disorder that results from a false belief that a part of the body is abnormal.

Bigorexia results in distorted self-esteem, and people with this disorder often feel smaller or less muscular.

Therapist Kara Becker said that with this condition, people can engage in excessive weightlifting, and use steroids or uncontrolled supplements in an attempt to build muscle, which often negatively affects their physical and mental health.

Although bigorexia can affect people of any gender, it is more common in men.

What causes it

Bigorexia is often caused by a combination of several factors, including genetic predisposition, as well as psychological factors that contribute to the development of the disorder.

Psychological factors that can increase the risk of binge eating disorder include perfectionism, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and negative experiences such as bullying or other traumatic events.

“Diet and fitness culture surrounds us everywhere we go - magazine covers displayed at the grocery store checkout, scrolling our social media, conversations with our friends. We’re bombarded with images of muscular, lean, chiseled bodies or discussions about how to make ourselves ‘leaner and fit.’” the expert said.

The emphasis on perfect beauty is not something new, but the level of influence on it is definitely there.

Young people do not always fully understand and appreciate the reality that they are seeing edited photos that have been selected to present a perfect image.

What to do with bigorexia

Anyone can experience eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorders, but seeking help can be especially difficult.

It's important to identify triggers and figure out how to reduce exposure to them. Limit social media, especially appearance-related content.

Spending more time on social media can lead to more peer comparisons. It can also lead to greater exposure to unattainable body ideals and greater body dissatisfaction.

Limiting your use of social media can free up time to devote to positive sources of pleasure - for example, meditation and yoga.

The recovery process is rarely linear or perfect, so remember to be kind to yourself. Celebrate your small victories and remember that every little effort counts towards your happiness and health.

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.