It has long been recognised that many women suffer
from body image-related anxieties, ranging from simple
unhappiness with shape and weight to a serious eating
disorder such as anorexia nervosa.
In comparison, little attention has been devoted to
the study of men who also display these concerns. In the
sport of bodybuilding, men pursue an idealised musclebound
body image as the primary goal of their training.
Developing a healthy body through following an
enjoyable exercise routine is undoubtedly a wholesome
endeavour; nevertheless, it seems that by focussing
overtly upon body image some bodybuilders are led to
crave an unattainable figure. Muscle dysmorphia is an
emerging condition that primarily affects male bodybuilders.
Such individuals obsess about being inadequately
muscular. Compulsions include spending hours
in the gym, squandering excessive amounts of money
on ineffectual sports supplements, abnormal eating
patterns or even substance abuse.
In this essay, I illustrate the features of muscle
dysmorphia by employing the first-person account of a
male bodybuilder afflicted by this condition. I briefly
outline the history of bodybuilding and examine
whether the growth of this sport is linked to a growing
concern with body image amongst males. I suggest that
muscle dysmorphia may be a new expression of a
common pathology shared with the eating disorders.