'Bigorexia' Is On The Rise In Kids And Teens. Here's What Parents Should Know.
HuffPost••health
Key Points:
- Muscle dysmorphia, also known as "bigorexia," is a growing psychological disorder primarily affecting boys, characterized by an obsessive desire to increase muscle size despite often having a muscular physique.
- The disorder leads to unhealthy behaviors such as excessive exercise, strict dieting, and sometimes steroid use, with research showing a rise in such behaviors among adolescent boys and young men.
- Social media plays a significant role in the increase of bigorexia by promoting unrealistic body ideals and constant comparison to influencers who often use professional help and digital enhancements to maintain their appearance.
- Experts recommend parents limit social media exposure, engage in open conversations about body image, emphasize body diversity, and model healthy attitudes toward exercise and self-esteem to help counteract these pressures.
