With media depictions of men being protrayed as more and more muscular, one study decided to examine how/if this impacts men's body dissatisfaction, specifically muscle dysmorphia. It was found that this overrepresentation of muscled bodies in the media led to men being biased about their own and other men's bodies. They were more likely to judge average bodies as non-muscular the more they were exposed to images of muscled men in the media over time. This effect did not occur when judging obesity, this effect only happened with the perception of muscles. Increasing media images of muscled men have contributed to increasing muscle dysmorphia among men.

Muscle Dysmorphia Among Men

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A study focusing on the psychiatric effects of anabolic steroids on male bodybuilders interviewed steroid users and non-steroid users. Nine of the subjects, two of whom were recovered anorexics, admitted to having a "reverse-anorexia" syndrome. They believed that they appeared small and weak when in reality they were large and muscular. This syndrome was only present among steroid users in the study. These men reported many adverse effects from reverse anorexia, including declining social invitations, wearing heavy/bulky clothes to appear larger, and refusing to be seen shirtless. Some of these men cited this syndrome as a reason why they continued to use steroids. This study highlighted how disorders of body image, including both anorexia and reverse anorexia, may occur frequently in males who lift weights often.

Reverse Anorexia Among Male Body Builders

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Muscle dysmorphia is a form of body dysmorphic disorder. It causes the individual to experience aversive emotions about their build and muscle appearance.

Boston College

State University of New York at Albany

Body dysmorphic disorder is a condition where an individual becomes excessively preoccupied with one or more perceived flaws in their physical appearance. These perceived defects are typically nonexistent or unnoticeable to others, but they cause the person to experience significant anxiety about how they appear.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Body dysmorphic disorder. (2023, January 11). Cleveland clinic. Retrieved February 20, 2024, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9888-body-dysmorphic-disorder

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Reference 

Reference for Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Professionals estimate that around 2.4% of adults in the United States suffer from body dysmorphic disorder, affecting an average of 2.5% of women and 2.2% of men. It affects an average of 1.7% to 2.9% of people in countries other than the United States. 

The Prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

The ages at which people are most likely to start developing body dysmorphic disorder are 12 and 13 years old. Around 60% of people who suffer from body dysmorphic disorder develop it by age 18, but some people might develop it in adulthood.

The Age at which People Most Develop Body Dysmorphic Disorder

* Family therapy.
* Prescription Medications. 
* Cognitive behavioral therapy. 


Possible Treatment for Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Muscle dysmorphia

These factors are suspected by experts to be reasons for the development of body dysmorphic disorder:

* Culture and media
* Genetics
* Being abused, neglected, or bullied as a child.
* Brain structure

Possible Causes for Body Dysmorphic Disorder

An individual spends over three hours each day focused on a small mole on their cheek, which others report they have never noticed. The individual is convinced the mole is a hideous flaw and that people are constantly staring at it. To cope, they engage in repetitive behaviors such as frequently checking their reflection, attempting to cover the mole with different types of concealer, and repeatedly asking friends if the mole looks bad. This preoccupation has caused them significant emotional distress and has led them to decline social invitations and call in sick to work. Based on this scenario, identify the most likely psychological condition and justify your diagnosis by connecting the individual's thoughts and behaviors to the key characteristics of that condition.

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