muscle dysmorphia

American  

[muhs-uhl dis-mawr-fee-uh] / ˈmʌs əl dɪsˌmɔr fi ə /

noun

1. a mental disorder primarily affecting males, characterized by obsessions about a perceived lack of muscularity, leading to compulsive exercising, use of anabolic steroids, etc.

---

Etymology

Origin of muscle dysmorphia

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

muscle dysmorphia

Treatments for people with muscle dysmorphia will vary based on the individual and provider, in part because there have been no randomized control trials to test which therapies work best.

From Salon ● Apr. 6, 2025

Kenan was able to trace the origins of his muscle dysmorphia back to getting bullied as a child for his size.

From Salon ● Apr. 6, 2025

Dr. Nagata: For people who develop eating disorders or muscle dysmorphia, exercise can be taken to the extreme and can cause more worry and preoccupation than enjoyment.

From New York Times ● Feb. 8, 2024

And a subset of those may develop eating disorders or muscle dysmorphia that can lead to significant psychological distress and physical health complications.

From New York Times ● Feb. 8, 2024

A body-image disorder called muscle dysmorphia, nicknamed “bigorexia,” causes even large men to see themselves as too small and develop an irrational fear of losing muscle.

From Washington Post