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Bigorexia – 1 in 10 Men Suffering?

Bigorexia: A big problem?

Yesterday whilst flicking through the BBC iPlayer, I came across Bigorexia – never buff enough. It’s a programme by Newsbeat that tells the tales of a few different people affected by Bigorexia (Muscle Dysmorphia) in various ways…

bigorexia

Pradeep Bala, a 25 year old gym-goer with (in his own words) “A vicious internal monologue”. The show follows his daily routine, from double gym-visits, constant self-critiquing, pressure over his daily meal frequency (7 meals per day) and self-chastising over his lack of sleep.

Mo, a gym owner who from Yorkshire who predicts as many as 70% of his gym members use anabolic steroids to build a bigger physique.

Sarah Loyne, who lost her son Oli aged 20. Oli suffered from Muscle Dysmorphia (bigorexia) which led him to take steroids. Aged 19 he suffered two heart attacks and a stroke. Aged 20, he suffered a third, fatal heart attack.

During the show we learn…

  • There are 9 million gym members in the UK
  • As many as 1 in 10 gym-going males may suffering from this ‘reverse anorexia’ we call bigorexia.
  • Bigorexia (Muscle Dysmorphia) causes depression, anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, an obsession with the gym, training and meal frequency.

I knew this existed – we all know people obsessed with getting bigger, but 1 in 10? I’m surprised. I don’t know how you can quantify the figure – ask any male gym goer what he trains for and I’d bet 90%+ would volunteer ‘to build muscle’ as an answer.

At what point wanting to build muscle turns into bigorexia though, I don’t know.

The topic has been studied professionally – a report by Gary Elliot digs into the background, the growth in and the effects of Bigorexia. The report is titled Bigorexia. When ‘Big’ Isn’t Big Enough.

For years we have heard about how the media, both fitness and otherwise has put pressure on us all to look a certain way. Where I think media pressure is largely individual (I certainly don’t feel any need to conform to a Men’s Health version of ‘ideal’ physique, for example), the images of what we ‘should’ aspire to are everywhere.

Where women have often said they feel pressure to look a certain way, the pressure on men is now being highlighted. I think this image in particular sums up the matter perfectly…

bigorexia

Thanks to the newsbeat show, a spotlight has been shined on the topic of bigorexia and if you recognise any of these behaviours or feelings in yourself, your friends or family members maybe you should suggest some professional help. Even if they don’t pursue professional help, this book may be a good starting point to help gain some perspective…

A few weeks before this show was released, I wrote about how the fitness media had a lot to answer for. It makes for an interesting supporting piece to this topic.

P.S. I’m giving away a FREE eBook ‘101 Health and Fitness Tips’ to everyone who subscribes to my VIP email list. By joining the list you’ll have access to exclusive content, discounts, offers and products from both me and selected partners. Click here to download!

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HoylesFitness

Owner of www.hoylesfitness.com. Personal Trainer, Father and fitness copy writer. Working hard making the world fitter and healthier!

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