Muscle dysmorphia

Muscle dysmorphia is a subtype of the obsessive mental disorder body dysmorphic disorder, frequently associated with eating disorders, and is also called bigorexia, megarexia or reverse anorexia. It involves a distorted perception in which a person believes their physique is insufficiently muscular or lean despite often having normal or exceptionally developed muscularity. The disorder primarily affects men, particularly those in competitive sports contexts, and those affected devote excessive time and resources to exercise routines, dietary programs and supplementation, with anabolic steroid use common among them. Recognition of the condition is limited by low public awareness and by the fact that affected individuals typically remain healthy-looking, unlike some related conditions. The preoccupation can cause absences from school, work and social settings, and suicide attempt rates are especially high with muscle dysmorphia compared with other body dysmorphic presentations. Researchers attribute rising incidence to contemporary cultural emphasis on muscular masculine ideals.