The behavior of many individuals in Western societies has raised alarm bells among mental health experts, as image culture increasingly influences our behavior.
Sports addiction or obsession with body image are phenomena that have emerged in recent times as a consequence of the values ​​promoted by capitalist society, fueled by consumerism and commercialized media. However, this also has an effect on mental health, and vigorexia is an example of this. Next we will see what this disorder consists of.
Our culture places excessive 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 that human beings can practice; However, when we become obsessed with our appearance, these beneficial effects disappear.
The modern obsession with having a muscular body This is what is known as vigorexia, although it is also called muscle dysmorphia or adonis complex.
What is vigorexia?
In other articles we have talked about how physical exercise It can almost become a dangerous addiction. often as a consequence of low self-esteem or the erroneous perception we have about our body. An example of this type of addiction, for example, is runnorexia or running addiction.
But another of the phenomena that is usually talked about in these cases is that of vigorexia, a disorder suffered by those people who They are obsessed with having a strong, muscular and low-fat body image. ; Despite having well-developed muscles, these individuals appear rather thin and fragile.
Vigorexia is also called inverted anorexia, since these people do not deprive themselves of food, but instead become obsessed with eat a lot of protein and they even use anabolics, which can cause side effects such as acne, enlarged mammary glands, hair loss, mood changes, heart problems…
For vigorous Mexicans, physical exercise is not synonymous with health, but what they seek is to achieve a perfect aesthetic, even sacrificing their well-being.
What are its causes?
Experts conclude that the causes of vigorexia are varied. However, the environment plays an important role in whether a person develops this disorder. Values ​​and beliefs, consequences of image culture play a determining role in how we value ourselves and how we see ourselves.
Thus, much of the obsession with the physique is determined by unrealistic expectations about the perfect body, which frequently appears in the media. This culture rewards physically attractive individuals and despises those who are not. And although this could be counteracted with correct education, the truth is that there are many people who They suffer because of their physical appearance.
Relationship between perfectionism and vigorexia
Now, personal factors also seem to be relevant in the development of vigorexia. The perfectionist personality makes people focus excessively on their body and are never happy with the image they have. This also causes them to be hard on themselves and carry out harmful behaviors such as overtraining the constant consumption of supplements, the obsession with diet, etc. Behaviors that are nothing more than an attempt to get closer to the image of perfection of the body that they have in their minds.
Self-esteem also influences when it comes to evaluating themselves negatively, and the lack of confidence makes these people look for a way to feel better in the perfect body.
Finally, vigorexia can be a consequence 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 who suffers from it is obsessed with their physical appearance and thinks about their body for many hours a day. Besides, this constant comparison with the ideal of beauty It 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 the person’s quality of life and even cause other negative consequences such as depression. But how can you identify this disorder?
What are your symptoms? People with vigorexia :
Treatment
Vigorexia can have important consequences for the health of the person who suffers from this disorder, as it can cause physical problems due to excessive training or unhealthy diet, serious problems due to steroid consumption. and even more mental health problems of the individual, such as severe depression. That 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 commitment therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The latter is, perhaps, the one that enjoys the greatest popularity and the one that offers the maximum guarantees.
Cognitive behavioral therapy applied to vigorexia aims to make the patient aware of how their beliefs and behavior are affecting their well-being, and then modify their way of thinking and behavior. To do this, it uses different techniques such as social skills training or cognitive restructuring, among others.
