Muscle dysmorphia

As muscle dysmorphia (also: Muscle addiction or Bigorexia ) is a disorder of the self-image is called, which is found predominantly in men and an inadequate expression of one's muscles, measured on a personal ideal of claims. The name became known in the 1990s by several studies of the U.S. psychiatrist and Harvard professor Harrison Pope and popular scientifically named in German-speaking countries Adonis Complex.

This disturbance of the perception of their own body image could, according to the research Popes go so far that even a pronounced muscular bodybuilders feel than skinny. The exact psychological and physiological causes of muscle addiction that some psychologists describe as exaggerated narcissism, are still largely unexplored.

The psychologist Roberto Olivardia lists the following similarities in muscle addicts:

• Low self-esteem
• Dissatisfaction with body image
• Poor or no relationship to the Father

This is similar to the disease of anorexia.