Muscle Dysmorphia: Could it be Classified as an Addiction to Body Image?

• Published in: Journal of behavioral addictions Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 1 - 5
• Main Authors: Foster, Andrew C, Shorter, Gillian W, Griffiths, Mark D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hungary Akadémiai Kiadó 01.03.2015; Academic Publishing House; Akademiai Kiado
• Subjects: Addiction; Behavior, Addictive - diagnosis; Behavior, Addictive - psychology; Behavioral Science; Behaviorism; Body dysmorphic disorder; Body Dysmorphic Disorders - classification; Body Dysmorphic Disorders - diagnosis; Body Dysmorphic Disorders - psychology; Body image; Body Image - psychology; Demography and human biology; Health and medicine and law; Humans; Muscle, Skeletal; Opinion Paper; Psychological research; Psychology of Self; Sports Studies; Substance abuse and addiction; Surveys and Questionnaires; behavioral addiction; eating disorder; muscle dysmorphia; body image; obsessive–compulsive disorder; body dysmorphic disorder; obsessive-compulsive disorder
• ISSN: 2062-5871; 2063-5303
• DOI: 10.1556/JBA.3.2014.001

Muscle dysmorphia (MD) describes a condition characterised by a misconstrued body image in which individuals who interpret their body size as both small or weak even though they may look normal or highly muscular. MD has been conceptualized as a type of body dysmorphic disorder, an eating disorder, and obsessive–compulsive disorder symptomatology. Method and aim: Through a review of the most salient literature on MD, this paper proposes an alternative classification of MD – the ‘Addiction to Body Image’ (ABI) model – using Griffiths (2005) addiction components model as the framework in which to define MD as an addiction. Results: It is argued the addictive activity in MD is the maintaining of body image via a number of different activities such as bodybuilding, exercise, eating certain foods, taking specific drugs (e.g., anabolic steroids), shopping for certain foods, food supplements, and the use or purchase of physical exercise accessories). In the ABI model, the perception of the positive effects on the self-body image is accounted for as a critical aspect of the MD condition (rather than addiction to exercise or certain types of eating disorder). Conclusions: Based on empirical evidence to date, it is proposed that MD could be re-classified as an addiction due to the individual continuing to engage in maintenance behaviours that may cause long-term harm.