Bigorexia: definition, causes, risks and how to deal with it

The desire to have an ideal body shape is not only owned by women. For most men, the gym is like a second home where to sculpt six pack abs and form a broad chest to get the ideal body shape. There is nothing wrong with exercising. But if this obsession continues to eat away at your soul to the point that you feel like you will never be "manly" enough, it may be worth consulting a doctor about it. The reason is, excessive obsession with muscular burly bodies can be a sign of bigorexia. Oops! What is that?

The ideal body standards in the gym affect how you rate your own body

Admittedly or not, the reasons for going to the gym for most men are based more on worries about body fat and shame and guilt than a desire to live a healthy life. This phenomenon is what underlies a joint research team from England and Australia to observe a number of gym activists, and found that usually men who think their bodies are "fat" (even though after being examined, they are not) will often and take longer to exercise.

You continue to be surrounded by people who are more muscular than you during your workout at the gym. Not to mention being overshadowed by sticky posters of encouragement from famous bodybuilders with muscles sticking out here and there. When you are surrounded by a group of people who think that the ideal body type for a man is a muscular and muscular body, then over time you will begin to idolize the same thing. Therefore, it is not surprising that later you will even think that your current "normal" body is a "fat and weak" body, not a body that is considered attractive.

Then there is a determination in yourself that, "I have to be lean and muscular just like them", which makes you even more passionate about exercising in the gym. But at the same time, the people who are your ideal body benchmark also continue to build their muscles even bigger so that your standards are getting higher to keep up with the changing currents. Without realizing it, this relentless pursuit of catching up makes you feel even more pressured and intimidated by not becoming the desired standard.

The illustration above is not impossible in the real world. Continued exposure to stereotypes of ideal body shape can keep you busy with everything that happens to your body just to please other people ("Does he think I look handsome in this body?") Than to make yourself comfortable (" Wow! The body feels easier after exercising ”). It is this anxiety that over time can have a negative impact on your mental health, and can lead to bigorexia.

What is bigorexia?

Bigorexia, also known as muscle dysmorphia, is actually in the same family as body dysmorphic disorder, which is a type of mental disorder associated with a strong obsession with negative body image.

Bigorexia is an anxiety disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts (constantly thinking and worrying) about physical 'defects' and body appearance, or focusing excessively on certain bodily deficiencies. For example, the notion that he is too thin and "flabby" and not as tough as other guys you see on TV or in the gym.

This continuing anxiety then makes you constantly compare your physique to others (“Why can't I be as strong as he is?”), Worried that your body is not “normal” or “perfect” in the eyes of others (“It seems like my gym efforts. fail all, my body is not muscular at all! ”), and spent a lot of time looking in the mirror stripping down a figure that you thought was never good enough.

This anxiety disorder can eventually cause you to justify various ways to have a muscular body, such as extreme diets (for example, deliberately starving yourself, symptoms of anorexia) or excessive exercise.

Who is prone to experiencing bigorexia?

Bigorexia is experienced by men of all ages, from young adults to those who are quite mature to middle age. According to Rob Wilson, head of the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation, as reported by the BBC, 1 in 10 men who regularly exercise show bigorexic symptoms.

Unfortunately, many men who experience this disorder or those closest to them are not aware of the symptoms. The reason is, the stereotype of "masculine, tall, and muscular man" which is still so firmly held by the community coupled with the influence of social media, makes the view of "going to the gym to death" a common thing.

A person who experiences severe bigorexia can experience depression and even show suicidal behavior because he feels that he has failed to have his ideal body shape due to his "deformed body".

What causes bigorexia?

The cause of bigorexia is not known for sure. However, certain biological and environmental factors can contribute to triggering the onset of symptoms, including genetic predisposition, neurobiological factors such as impaired serotonin function in the brain, personality traits, social media influences and family to friends, as well as culture and life experiences.

Traumatic experiences or emotional conflicts during childhood as well as low levels of self-confidence can also increase your risk of developing bigorexia.

What are the symptoms of this disorder?

Signs or symptoms of bigorexia include an irresistible desire to exercise or go to the gym compulsively, often prioritizing exercise over personal and social life, frequently reflecting back and forth looking at body shape, even abusing muscle supplements or using steroid injections, which can actually endanger health.

How to deal with bigorexia?

Body dysmorphic disorder is often not recognized by the owner of the body, so they avoid talking about the symptoms. But it is important to consult a doctor as soon as you notice the initial symptoms, both in yourself and in those closest to you.

Your doctor can diagnose you from your medical history and physical examination or refer a specialist (psychiatrist, psychologist) for a better assessment. Cognitive behavioral therapy together with antidepressant drugs such as clomipramine are quite effective and are most often used as a bigorexia treatment plan.