Vigorexia is a psychological and eating disorder characterized by dissatisfaction with body image.
People with vigorexia look for a perfect body. They have feelings of inferiority and a distorted view of their appearance.
For medicine it is known as Muscular Dysmorphic Disorder (MDD).
The person with vigorexia sees himself thinner and weaker
Features
Vigorexia has as its main characteristic, the alteration in relation to the body image, the vigorexic person believes to be thinner and weaker, even muscular. Thus, it aims to increase muscle mass.
Therefore, the vigoréxico practices intense and frequent physical exercises, sometimes associated with the use of anabolic steroids and food supplements.
Vigorexic individuals can spend several hours in the gym exercising and increasing their loads.
Intense weight training is common among people with vigor
In addition, it is also common to adopt extremely high protein diets, without the advice of a doctor or nutritionist.
Among its causes are: the search for a slim and muscular body, physical strength and the need to feel included in a social group.
Vigorexia is more common in men between 18 to 35 years of age. Although less frequent, female vigorexia also occurs.
Symptoms
The symptoms of vigorexia are:
- Dissatisfaction with fitness
- Exaggerated exercise practice
- Use of anabolic steroids and dietary supplements to gain muscle mass
- constant muscle pain
- fast heart rate
- intense fatigue
- Practice of strict diets
- Depression and Anxiety
- Insomnia
Vigorexia resembles anorexia in terms of distorted body image. In anorexia, the person sees themselves overweight. While in vigorexia, the individual feels weak, even being muscular.
Consequences
The consequences of vigorexia are:
- Health complications such as: kidney or liver failure, blood circulation problems
- Risk of cardiovascular disease
- Depression
- Increased risk of prostate cancer in men
- Infertility in the case of women
- Distancing from social life, attention is focused only on exercising
Also read about Orthorexia.
Treatment
The treatment of vigorexia must be carried out in a multidisciplinary way, with the participation of a physician, psychologist, nutritionist and physical education teacher.
The vigorexic person must be guided to perform physical exercises aimed at the well-being and health of the body, respecting its limits.
Group or individual therapies are beneficial in helping a person regain self-confidence and see themselves in a new way.
The use of medication is indicated for depression and anxiety.
Learn more about the Eating Disorders.
