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Understanding Bigorexia Among Boys

  • Aubry Orlino
  • Mar 25
  • 6 min read

In a culture that often celebrates physical strength and the "ideal" male body, a growing number of boys are silently struggling with a little-known but increasingly common condition: bigorexia, also known as muscle dysmorphia. Unlike typical concerns about body weight, bigorexia centers around the obsessive belief that one's body is too small or not muscular enough, even when that isn't the case.



What is Bigorexia?

Bigorexia is a type of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a mental health condition where individuals fixate on perceived flaws in their appearance. For boys and young men with bigorexia, this manifests as a relentless drive to increase muscle mass, often at the expense of their physical, emotional, and social well-being.


The Rise of Bigorexia: What the Research Says

Recent studies have uncovered a troubling trend: muscle dysmorphia is on the rise, particularly among adolescent boys. About 22% of young men engage in muscle-enhancing behaviors, including changing eating habits, using supplements, and taking anabolic steroids to build muscle (Nagata et al., 2022). These behaviors are linked to disordered eating and muscle dysmorphia, as individuals may develop an obsessive focus on muscle gain, leading to restrictive eating, compulsive exercise, and supplement dependency.


Why It’s Often Overlooked

Unlike traditional eating disorders among girls, which are often associated with weight loss, bigorexia can be difficult to spot because it’s masked by cultural norms. Society praises boys for being athletic, disciplined, and committed to fitness—qualities that can disguise the deeper distress of muscle dysmorphia. As a result, these boys may suffer in silence, believing their behaviors are not only normal but—admirable.


What Are The Contributing Factors?

  • Social Media Influence: Platforms like Instagram and TikTok may promote unrealistic body standards, leaving boys feeling inadequate in comparison to heavily edited fitness influencers. For instance, a study found that 60% of TikTok fitness influencers share misleading health advice, distorting body image (Pryde et al., 2024).

  • Gym Culture & Peer Pressure: In many fitness circles, excessive exercise and restrictive dieting are normalized and even celebrated. A 2023 study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that TikTok's #HealthyLifestyle content often promotes poor body image, restrictive eating, and excessive exercise. Similarly, a 2024 Flinders University study linked diet and fitness apps to increased disordered eating and obsessive behaviors. These findings highlight how fitness culture may inadvertently encourage unhealthy behaviors.

  • Athletic Pressures: Young athletes, particularly those in weight-class sports, feel immense pressure to bulk up for performance advantages. Additionally, research suggests that athletes who engage in weight training primarily for aesthetic purposes rather than performance enhancement are particularly at a higher risk (St-Cyr et al., 2024).

  • Underlying Mental Health Factors: Anxiety, perfectionism, low self-esteem, and genetic predispositions can all increase the likelihood of developing muscle dysmorphia.


Signs Your Child May Be Struggling

  • Distorted body image: Seeing themselves as small or weak despite being visibly muscular.

  • Excessive workouts: Spending hours lifting weights, engaging in intense training routines, and prioritizing workouts over daily activities.

  • Strict or obsessive eating habits: Following rigid dietary rules focused on high protein intake and avoiding anything perceived as “unhealthy.”

  • Supplement or steroid use: Turning to performance-enhancing substances to speed up muscle growth.

  • Avoidance behaviors: Skipping social events or school functions to avoid missing workouts.

  • Emotional distress: Experiencing anxiety, irritability, or depression related to body image.


How Parents Can Help Boys Struggling with Bigorexia

Parents play a crucial role in counteracting the societal pressures that contribute to muscle dysmorphia. Here’s how they can help:

  • Limit Social Media Influence – While eliminating social media isn’t realistic, parents should discuss the unrealistic body standards their children see online. Encourage critical thinking about these images rather than blindly accepting them. A 2021 study in Current Opinion in Psychology highlights the need for parental guidance in interpreting online content.

  • Open the conversation – Create a safe space to talk about body image and self-esteem without judgment. Research indicates that strong parent-adolescent communication correlates with reduced depressive symptoms and improved self-concept in adolescents (Zhang et al., 2021).

  • Monitor mental health – Be aware of signs of anxiety, depression, or social withdrawal.

  • Educate about healthy fitness – Help boys understand the difference between healthy strength-building and obsessive behaviors. Reiterate that taking care of their bodies means proper nutrition, hydration, rest, and balanced exercise—not extremes. Talk about body diversity as a natural and positive thing.

  • Model Healthy Behaviors - Parents' attitudes toward their own bodies and health significantly influence their children's perceptions. A 2023 study underscores the association between parental emotion regulation and parenting quality, suggesting that parents who manage their emotions effectively provide better support for their children's mental health (Zhang et al., 2023).

  • Address Bullying and Teasing – If a child is being teased about their appearance, intervene early. Recognize warning signs like obsession with exercise, rigid eating habits, or social withdrawal.

  • Seek Professional Help When Needed – If bigorexia is affecting daily life, consult healthcare professionals specializing in eating disorders and body dysmorphia. Early intervention is key to preventing long-term consequences.

By fostering open conversations and a healthy mindset, parents can help their children build confidence and a balanced relationship with their bodies.


Final Thoughts: Redefining Strength

Bigorexia is a serious but often overlooked mental health concern. In a world that constantly pressures boys to be bigger, leaner, and stronger, it’s essential to remind them that true strength comes from balance, self-acceptance, and mental well-being.

If you or someone you know is struggling with body image issues or muscle dysmorphia, seek help from a healthcare provider, therapist, or trusted mentor. Together, we can shift the conversation from “bigger is better” to “healthy is best.”



REFERENCES:


Flinders University. (2025, February 20). Fitness apps fuelling disordered eating. News. https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2025/02/22/fitness-apps-fuelling-disordered-eating/?utm_


Ganson, K. T., Testa, A., Rodgers, R. F., Murray, S. B., & Nagata, J. M. (2025). Exploring body ideal internalization, sociocultural pressures, and probable muscle dysmorphia in Canadian and American boys and men. Eating Behaviors, 56, 101944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2025.101944


Ganson, K. T., & Rodgers, R. F. (2022). Problematic muscularity-oriented behaviors: Overview, key gaps, and ideas for future research. Body Image, 41, 262–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.03.005


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Nagata, J. M., Hazzard, V. M., Ganson, K. T., Austin, S. B., Neumark-Sztainer, D., & Eisenberg, M. E. (2022). Muscle-building behaviors from adolescence to emerging adulthood: A prospective cohort study. Preventive Medicine Reports, 27, 101778. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101778

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Raiter, N., Husnudinov, R., Mazza, K., & Lamarche, L. (2023b). TikTok promotes diet culture and negative body image rhetoric: a content analysis. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 55(10), 755–760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2023.08.001


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