The behaviour of many individuals in Western societies has set off the alarm bells of mental health experts, as the culture of image increasingly influences our behaviour.

Addiction to sport or obsession with body image are phenomena that have emerged in recent times as a consequence of the values promoted by capitalist society, fed by consumerism and the commercialized media. However, this also has an effect on mental health, and vigorexia is an example of this . Below we will see what this disorder consists of.

Men’s modern obsession with their bodies

Our culture places too much importance on body image, and the media constantly bombards us with advertisements about what our bodies should look like. Physical exercise is, without a doubt, one of the healthiest habits we can practice as human beings; however, when we become obsessed with our appearance, these beneficial effects disappear.

The modern obsession with having a muscular body is what is known as vigorexia, although it is also called muscular dysmorphia or adonis complex.

What is vigorexia?

In other articles we have talked about how physical exercise can become almost a dangerous addiction , often as a consequence of low self-esteem or the wrong perception we have about our body. An example of this type of addiction, for example, is runnorexia or addiction to running.

But another phenomenon that is often mentioned in these cases is that of vigorexia, a disorder suffered by those who are obsessed with having a strong, muscular and low-fat body image ; despite having well-developed muscles, these individuals show a rather thin and fragile appearance.

Vigorexia is also called inverted anorexia, as these people do not deprive themselves of food, but become obsessed with eating a large amount of protein and even use anabolics, which can cause side effects such as acne, enlargement of mammary glands, hair loss, mood swings, heart problems

For the vigorous, physical exercise is not synonymous with health, but what they seek is to achieve perfect aesthetics by sacrificing even their well-being.

What are its causes?

Experts conclude that the causes of vigorexia are varied. However, the environment plays an important role in causing the person to develop this disorder. Values and beliefs, a consequence of the culture of image , play a determining role in how we value ourselves and how we see ourselves.

Thus, much of the obsession with the physical is determined by unrealistic expectations about the perfect body, which appears in the media frequently. This culture rewards physically attractive individuals and despises those who are not. And although this could be countered with the right education, the truth is that many people suffer because of their physical appearance.

Relationship between perfectionism and vigorexia

However, personal factors also seem to be relevant in the development of vigorexia. The perfectionist personality makes people fixate too much on their body and never be happy with the image they have. This also makes them hard on themselves and carry out harmful behaviours such as overtraining , constant consumption of supplements, obsession with diet, etc. Behaviours that are an attempt to get closer to the image of perfection of the body that they have in their mind.

Self-esteem also has an influence when it comes to evaluating oneself negatively, and the lack of confidence makes these people look for a way to feel better in the perfect body.

Finally, vigorexia can be the result of family problems or some emotional trauma from childhood, for example, after having suffered bullying.

Symptoms and signs

Vigorexia is a type of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), in which the person suffering from it lives obsessed with his physical appearance and thinks about his body for many hours a day. Moreover, this constant comparison with the ideal of beauty usually generates great anxiety and discomfort.

Therefore, it is necessary to treat this problem with the help of a professional, because it can significantly reduce a person’s quality of life and even cause other negative consequences such as depression. But how can this disorder be identified?

What are your symptoms? People with vigorexia :

  • Spend a lot of time taking care of your body image, for example, at the gym. What interferes with your social life or job performance
  • They look at each other in the mirror every few months.
  • They can prevent other people from seeing their bodies because of a lack of confidence (even though they are fine).
  • They feel extreme anxiety or distress if they don’t train.
  • They go on extreme diets.
  • They use anabolics or supplements that are harmful to health.

Treatment

Vigorexia can have important consequences for the health of the person suffering from this disorder, as it can cause physical problems due to over-training or unhealthy diet, serious problems from steroid use and even more problems in the individual’s mental health such as severe depression. This is why vigorexia should be treated by a psychology professional specialized in this type of problem.

There are psychotherapy treatments that have been shown to be effective, for example, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), acceptance or engagement therapy or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) . The latter is perhaps the most popular and offers the most guarantees.

Cognitive behavioral therapy applied to vigorexia aims to make the patient aware of how his beliefs and behavior are affecting his well-being, and then to modify his thinking and behavior. To do this, it uses different techniques such as social skills training or cognitive restructuring, among others.