Bigorexia
DESCRIPTION:
Bigorexia: Muscle addiction and Adonis complex. Those affected feel frail, while the desire for the ideal body becomes a psychological disorder.
Bigorexia: When muscle building becomes muscle dysmorphia – Why young men are particularly at risk
What it's about: Bigorexia, also known as muscle dysmorphia, is a mental disorder in which sufferers perceive their own bodies as thin and unmuscular despite their muscular physique. This eating disorder particularly affects young men and is exacerbated by social media, unrealistic beauty ideals and the Adonis complex. This article explains the symptoms, causes and possible consequences of this dangerous disorder – and shows why it is so important to treat muscle dysmorphia before a healthy pursuit of fitness turns into a compulsive, unhealthy loss of control.
What is bigorexia, and how does it differ from regular fitness training?
Bigorexia – colloquially known as muscle addiction – is a form of body dysmorphic disorder in which people develop a distorted perception of their body. Unlike anorexia, where sufferers perceive themselves as too fat despite being underweight, people with muscle dysmorphia see themselves as too weak and not muscular enough, even though they often already have a very muscular body.
This psychological disorder goes far beyond the normal desire for a healthy physique. While health-conscious people go to the gym to improve their fitness, those affected prioritise excessive muscle building over their lives. A preoccupation with their own bodies can become an obsession. Every waking minute revolves around training, diet, nutritional supplements and the constant worry of not being muscular enough.
The crucial difference lies in distorted self-perception: a healthy athlete can objectively perceive progress and enjoy success. People with bigorexia, on the other hand, suffer from a distorted perception of their own body – no matter how much muscle mass they build, it never feels like enough. This distorted perception leads to a vicious cycle of intense training, strict dieting and increasing psychological pressure.
What are the symptoms of muscle dysmorphia?
The symptoms of muscle dysmorphia are varied and range from psychological to physical signs. The most striking feature is distorted body perception: those affected see themselves in the mirror as thin and puny, even though they are objectively muscular. This distortion is not rational – even when friends, family or photos prove the opposite, dissatisfaction with one's own body remains.
Another key symptom is a compulsive preoccupation with the development of one's own muscles. Those affected spend several hours a week at the gym, often to the point of overtraining. They cannot stop training, even when injured or when their body urgently needs rest. Training becomes a compulsion – skipping it leads to massive anxiety and a feeling of loss of control.
Eating habits are also strictly controlled. People with muscle addiction follow rigid diet plans, avoid social contacts if they do not fit into their nutritional regime, and develop deficiency symptoms due to an unbalanced diet. In addition, they often abuse anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing substances such as anabolic steroids to build muscle faster – despite knowing the health risks. This willingness to endanger one's own health shows how severe this disorder can be.
Why are young men particularly affected by muscle addiction?
Young men are the leading risk group for bigorexia – and there are several reasons for this. On the one hand, unrealistic beauty ideals shape their relationship with their bodies from an early age. Superheroes in films, bodybuilders on social media and fitness influencers on Instagram present muscular bodies as the standard that everyone should strive to achieve. What is not shown is that many of these bodies can only be achieved through years of training, genetic advantages and often through substances such as anabolic steroids.
The so-called Adonis complex – named after the Greek god Adonis, the epitome of male beauty – describes the phenomenon that men are under increasing pressure to conform to a perfect ideal of beauty. Social media massively amplifies this social pressure. Algorithms often display content that triggers strong emotional reactions, and the feeling of inadequacy that arises when comparing oneself to perfectly staged bodies is a compelling emotion.
In addition, many young men have low self-esteem, which they try to compensate for through physical self-optimisation. Experiences such as bullying in childhood, social exclusion or the feeling of not being ‘masculine enough’ can fuel the desire for more muscle mass. But instead of strengthening self-esteem in the long term, a dangerous dependency develops: self-esteem becomes utterly dependent on muscle mass – a foundation that can collapse at any time.
What role do social media play in the development of bigorexia?
Social media is a key driver of the bigorexia epidemic. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube flood users with images of supposedly perfect bodies – often taken with professional lighting, after hours of ‘pumping iron’ in the gym, digitally edited and photographed from the best angles. But the human brain processes these images as a benchmark without considering the context.
The problem is that users compare their worst moments – in the morning, bloated, without training, in poor lighting – with other people's absolute highlight moments. This asymmetrical basis for comparison creates a constant feeling of inadequacy. The more time young men spend on these platforms, the more distorted their perception of their own bodies becomes.
To make matters worse, many influencers are not transparent about their use of anabolic steroids. They present bodies that are naturally almost unattainable as the result of ‘hard work and discipline’. Young men who emulate these role models realise after months or years that they will never look anything like them, which further increases their dissatisfaction with their own bodies and leads them to consider using performance-enhancing substances themselves. Media literacy – the ability to recognise unrealistic and manipulated content – is therefore an important protective factor against the development of muscle dysmorphia.
How can you tell when healthy ambition has turned into compulsive muscle addiction?
The transition from healthy fitness motivation to compulsive fitness addiction or sports addiction is gradual and often unrecognisable to those affected. A meaningful warning sign is when training no longer serves to improve one's life, but instead, life becomes subordinate to training. Those affected often cancel essential appointments, avoid social contact, and sacrifice relationships, careers, and leisure time for excessive exercise.
Another warning sign is the inability to recognise progress. Even when objective measurements – photos, tape measures, strength values – show clear improvements, the subjective feeling remains: ‘I'm not good enough.’ This persistent dissatisfaction, coupled with a compulsive desire for even more muscle, is a clear indication of distorted self-perception.
The reaction to missed training sessions is also revealing. Healthy athletes can take occasional breaks without panicking. People with muscle addiction, on the other hand, develop massive anxiety, feelings of guilt and a sense of loss of control when they are unable to train. Training is no longer for well-being, but becomes a duty that must be fulfilled – whatever the cost. This perfectionism and rigid control over training and nutrition are characteristic of the disorder.
What are the health consequences of excessive muscle building?
The potential consequences of bigorexia are serious and affect both physical and mental health. Physically, overtraining leads to chronic injuries that are often ignored or ‘trained through’, which can cause permanent damage. A strictly controlled, unbalanced diet usually leads to deficiencies, as specific vitamins, minerals, or healthy fats are neglected, which can cause long-term organ damage.
It becomes hazardous when those affected resort to anabolic steroids or other illegal substances. The abuse of anabolic steroids can lead to heart problems, liver damage, hormonal disorders, infertility and psychological changes such as aggression. What starts as a ‘one-time experiment’ often develops into addiction – both physical and psychological. The muscle mass gained boosts self-esteem in the short term, which further fuels the vicious cycle.
Psychologically, those affected suffer from depression, anxiety disorders and social isolation. Since their entire self-esteem depends on their muscles, they are in a constant state of tension and worry about losing muscle mass. Relationships break down, career opportunities are missed, and quality of life declines dramatically. In severe cases, obsessive-compulsive disorders and suicidal thoughts develop. The damage to health is often irreversible, which is why early intervention is crucial.
What distinguishes bigorexia from other eating disorders, such as anorexia?
Bigorexia is medically classified as a form of body dysmorphic disorder, but it overlaps with eating disorders, which is why it is sometimes referred to as ‘reverse anorexia’. The key difference lies in the direction of the distortion. While people with anorexia nervosa perceive themselves as too fat and desperately try to lose weight, people with muscle dysmorphia perceive themselves as too weak and desperately try to build muscle.
However, both disorders share fundamental mechanisms: a distorted body image, compulsive behaviour around food and body, social isolation and self-esteem that is entirely dependent on physical characteristics. The treatment is also similar: cognitive behavioural therapy in particular has proven effective in breaking through distorted thought patterns and establishing a healthy relationship with one's own body.
Another difference is social perception. While anorexia is recognised and discussed as a severe eating disorder, bigorexia often remains invisible. Those affected are admired for their discipline and muscular bodies – no one recognises the suffering behind it. This lack of attention means that many sufferers do not seek professional help because they do not recognise their problems as a disorder. The Federal Centre for Health Education points out that greater awareness of this specific form of body image disorder is urgently needed.
How can those affected be helped, and what treatment options are available?
The treatment of muscle dysmorphia requires professional help from specialised therapists. The first step is often the most difficult: those affected must recognise that their behaviour is no longer healthy and that they need help. Since many consider their intensive training to be a virtue, they often lack insight into their illness. Family members can help by gently pointing out changes – not by criticising the body, but by expressing concern about behaviour and quality of life. Psychotherapy is the most important pillar of treatment.
In therapy, those affected learn to recognise and question their distorted thought patterns and their causes. They work on decoupling their self-esteem from physical characteristics and developing alternative sources of self-worth. Correcting distorted body perception through special exercises is also part of the therapy.
In some cases, medication may also be helpful, especially if depression or anxiety disorders are also present. It is also essential that sufferers learn to eat a healthy diet instead of following rigid diet plans, and to develop a balanced exercise programme instead of excessive exercise. Self-help groups can offer additional support, as talking to others who have experienced similar issues can help reduce feelings of isolation. Treatment is often lengthy, but with professional support, individuals can learn to develop a healthy relationship with their body and engage in regular exercise.
What role does society play in preventing muscle addiction?
Social discourse is crucial in preventing a healthy interest in fitness from developing into muscle dysmorphia. Most fitness content on social media does not reflect reality, but is staged imagery. The only way to combat this is to encourage critical thinking about beauty ideals and digital manipulation.
Strengthening self-esteem, independent of appearance, is also crucial. Young people need validation for their abilities, character and achievements – not just for their appearance. Parents, teachers and coaches play an important role here by recognising diverse aspects of personality and counterbalancing the superficial standards of evaluation on social media.
Society must also educate people about the dangers of substances such as anabolic steroids and convey realistic expectations about natural muscle building. When young men understand that building a muscular body takes years and is genetically limited, they develop more realistic goals. Gyms and trainers also have a responsibility: they should recognise and address excessive behaviour rather than encourage it. A culture that promotes healthy fitness rather than extreme self-optimisation is the best protection against muscle addiction.
When should you seek professional help?
Professional help should be sought as soon as several warning signs appear simultaneously. If training and nutrition are no longer flexible but follow rigid, self-imposed rules, this is a clear sign. If skipping a training session leads to panic, feelings of guilt or depressive moods, a compulsive pattern is already present.
Another critical point is reached when vital areas of life are neglected: relationships break down, professional or academic performance suffers, hobbies are abandoned, and social contacts are avoided because they do not align with the training or nutrition regimen. At the latest, when physical complaints are ignored and training continues despite injuries, there is an urgent need for action.
Particularly alarming is the consideration or use of anabolic steroids or other performance-enhancing substances. This shows that there is a willingness to accept severe damage to health – a clear sign of a mental disorder that requires psychotherapeutic treatment. Points of contact are general practitioners, who can refer patients to specialists, counselling centres for eating disorders (even if, strictly speaking, it is a body dysmorphic disorder), and therapists with experience in body image disorders. The earlier the intervention, the better the chances of recovery.
How can you maintain a healthy relationship with muscle building?
A healthy relationship with muscle building is based on balance and flexibility. Training should enrich your life, not dominate it. This means saying yes to regular exercise, but also yes to social activities, rest days and spontaneous changes of plan. If you occasionally skip a workout without feeling guilty or anxious, you have a healthy relationship with exercise.
Motivation should also be questioned. Do I exercise to become healthier, stronger and more efficient? Or do I exercise because I feel worthless without it? Healthy fitness goals are formulated positively (‘I want to get fitter’) rather than negatively (‘I have to stop looking so weak’). Self-esteem should be based on several pillars – relationships, professional achievements, hobbies, character – and not exclusively on physical characteristics.
It is also essential to break away from unrealistic comparisons. Fitness success should be measured by one's own progress, rather than comparing oneself to genetically gifted or pharmacologically enhanced athletes on social media. Those who learn to appreciate their own bodies and set realistic, individual goals protect themselves from slipping into muscle addiction. Healthy eating instead of extreme diets, balanced training instead of overtraining, and enjoyment of exercise instead of compulsive duty – these are the principles of a sustainable, healthy fitness lifestyle.
Summary: The most critical points about bigorexia
· Bigorexia or muscle dysmorphia is a mental disorder with distorted body perception – those affected see themselves as weak even though they are muscular
· Young men are particularly at risk due to unrealistic beauty ideals, the Adonis complex and the influence of social media
· Warning signs include: compulsive training, strict dietary control, neglect of social contacts, inability to recognise progress, and consideration of anabolic steroids
· Social media exacerbates the problem through constant confrontation with unrealistic, often digitally manipulated body images
· Health consequences are severe: overtraining, injuries, deficiency symptoms, psychological problems and, in the case of anabolic steroid abuse, severe organ damage
· Difference from anorexia: while people with anorexia feel too fat, those affected by bigorexia feel too weak – both suffer from distorted self-perception
· Treatment is mainly through psychotherapy (primarily cognitive behavioural therapy), which corrects distorted thinking patterns and rebuilds self-esteem
· Society: media literacy, realistic expectations, strengthening self-esteem and education about the natural limits of muscle building
· Professional help should be sought as soon as training and nutrition become compulsive and vital areas of life suffer as a result
· A healthy relationship with sport means that training enriches life but does not dominate it – flexibility, enjoyment, and balance are crucial
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