What Parents Need To Know

Key Points:

• Muscle dysmorphia, or "bigorexia," is a psychological disorder characterized by an obsession with muscle size and physical appearance, most commonly affecting boys and young men who perceive themselves as insufficiently muscular despite often having well-developed physiques.
• The disorder is on the rise, with studies showing that many adolescent boys engage in muscularity-oriented disordered behaviors such as excessive exercise, dietary changes, supplement use, and steroid use, yet it remains under-recognized due to social normalization of muscle-building behaviors.
• Contributing factors include biological, psychological, and sociocultural influences, with social media playing a significant role by exposing young people to unrealistic and idealized body images, which can fuel body dissatisfaction and obsessive behaviors.
• Parents can help by limiting social media exposure, fostering open conversations about body image, emphasizing qualities beyond physical appearance, and providing context about the unrealistic nature of celebrity and influencer bodies to promote body respect and diversity.
• Early intervention is crucial; parents should watch for warning signs like obsessive exercise or rigid eating habits and seek professional help from interdisciplinary teams specializing in body dysmorphia and eating disorders to support affected children effectively.