Muscle Dysphoria

By UNIV 200 Student, Joel Person

What is Muscle Dysmorphia?
Muscle Dysmorphia also known as reverse anorexia or bigorexia, is a type of health disorder
that typically affects males. It is categorized under the body dysmorphic spectrum where those
afflicted have trouble seeing their body for what it actually is. A person with muscle dysmorphia
sees their body as inadequately muscular and is pre-occupied with making their body bigger,
stronger, and leaner DESPITE the fact that they are more muscular than the average person.
Although it is classified as a type of body dysmorphic disorder, it is similar to other disorders
such as anorexia, bulimia, and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Diagnostic Criteria for Muscle Dysmorphia
1. The individual is obsessed with the belief that his or her body should be more lean and
muscular. A signicant amount of time devoted to weight lifting and xation on ones diet is
common.
2. At least 2 of the following 4 criteria should be met:
a. The uncontrollable focus on pursuing the usual training regimen causes the person to miss out
on career, social, and other activities.
b. Circumstances involving body exposure are preferably avoided; if avoidance is not possible,
signicant unease and worry occur.
c. Performance in the work and social arenas is affected by the presumed body deciencies.
d. The potentially detrimental effects of the training regimen fail to discourage the individual
from pursuing hazardous practices.
3. Unlike anorexia nervosa, in which the person is concerned about being overweight, or other
types of body dysmorphic disorder in which the concern is with other physical aspects, the
individual with muscle dysmorphia believes that his or her body is insufciently small or
muscular (Leone).
Profile
Carrey Rossi cited in her 2005 magazine article from Joe Weiders Muscle & Fitness a profile
from the American J ournal of Psychiatry by Olivardia et al.:
Normalweightlifters MenwithMuscleDysmorphia
Workedoutbecauseitmadethemfeelhealthy,they
enjoyedit,andtheythoughtitimprovedtheir
appearance
Noenjoymentinworkingout.Theironly
pleasurecamefromthefactthattheyfeltlike
theygotbiggerthatday
Didntstressoutiftheymissedaworkout Workoutroutineinterferedwithlife

Workoutroutinedidnotinterferewiththeirsocial
lives,relationships,orjobs
Amissedworkoutmeantlifeordeath

Workoutwaspartoftheirdailyroutine Workoutwasadominantpartofdailyroutine
Are you at risk?
After reading through this article you might sit and think to yourself Am I at risk? Do you
have a healthy habit with a goal in mind that you are dedicated to reach or are you mindlessly
working your body through harmful exercise habits and routines? Ask yourself these questions
from this 2003 Joe Weiders Muscle & Fitness magazine article by Claps:
Do you work out even when youre ill or injured?
Do you place your workouts above family or occupational obligations?
Does missing a workout send you into an abyss of guilt?
Are you ever satisfied with how you look?
Do you constantly worry about how other people may perceive your body?

Works Cited
Claps, Frank. "Bigorexia -- When A Healthy Habit Turns Bad." Joe Weider's Muscle &
Fitness 64.5 (2003): 45. SPORTDiscus. Web. 6 Dec. 2012.
Leone, J ames E., Edward J . Sedory, and Kimberly A. Gray. "Recognition And Treatment Of
Muscle Dysmorphia And Related Body Image Disorders." Journal of Athletic
Training 40.4 (2005): 352-359. SPORTDiscus. Web. 22 Nov. 2012.
Rossi, Carey. "Split Image." Joe Weider's Muscle & Fitness 66.9 (2005): 234. SPORTDiscus.
Web. 22 Nov. 2012.

Complete Works Cited for Paper
Bailey, Rob. "I'm Still Skinny!." Men's Fitness 26.10 (2010): 94-97.SPORTDiscus. Web. 22
Nov. 2012.
Bell, Chris, dir. Bigger, Stonger, Faster. Perf. Chris Bell. Magnolia Pictures, 2008. DVD.
Garcia, Yolanda De la Garza, et al. "Muscle Dysmorphia And The DSM-V Conundrum: Where
Does It Belong? A Review Paper." International Journal Of Eating Disorders 43.6
(2010): 483-491. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Nov. 2012.
Grieve, Frederick G., Natalie Truba, and Sandy Bowersox. "Etiology, Assessment, And
Treatment Of Muscle Dysmorphia." Journal Of Cognitive Psychotherapy 23.4 (2009):
306-314. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Nov. 2012.
Leit, R.A., J .J . Gray, and H.G. Pope J r. "The Media's Representation Of The Ideal Male Body: A
Cause For Muscle Dysmorphia?." International Journal Of Eating Disorders 31.3
(2002): 334-338. SPORTDiscus. Web. 17 Nov. 2012.
Leone, J ames E., Edward J . Sedory, and Kimberly A. Gray. "Recognition And Treatment Of
Muscle Dysmorphia And Related Body Image Disorders." Journal Of Athletic
Training 40.4 (2005): 352-359. SPORTDiscus. Web. 22 Nov. 2012.
Rossi, Carey. "Split Image." Joe Weider's Muscle & Fitness 66.9 (2005): 234. SPORTDiscus.
Web. 22 Nov. 2012.
Vandereycken, Walter. "Media Hype, Diagnostic Fad Or Genuine Disorder? Professionals'
Opinions About Night Eating Syndrome, Orthorexia, Muscle Dysmorphia, And
Emetophobia."Eating Disorders 19.2 (2011): 145-155. SPORTDiscus. Web. 17 Nov.
2012.