Vigorexia is not a concept recognized by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE). However, the term is very common to describe muscle dysmorphia, a disorder characterized by obsessive concern for the physical and distortion of the body scheme.
This emotional or nervous disorder, which doctors do not usually recognize as an illness, is more common in men than in women. Also known as the Adonis complex, vigorexia causes those who suffer from it to perceive their physical characteristics in a distorted way.
Specifically, people with this disorder appear thin and weak. Thus, they carry out all kinds of actions to achieve the desired musculature. Among the causes that lead a person to be affected by this problem are fundamentally the fact of having an obsessive personality, especially with oneself, in addition to suffering from various emotional problems in personal or professional relationships. All this without forgetting that, on other occasions, the reasons that lead someone to suffer vigorexia are physiological problems. Specifically, it is believed to be caused by what appear to be various effects on the Central Nervous System. Among the main symptoms that indicate that someone has this disorder are low self-esteem, those who continually weigh themselves, those who self-medicate, those who manifest an absolute obsession with the cult of the body, those who have a disproportionate body, those who they have a completely distorted view of their physical state or that they begin to isolate themselves socially. Vigorexicos feel that they lack muscle and tone; therefore, they become obsessed with performing physical exercises that allow them to improve their body appearance. These exercises are performed compulsively until the body loses its normal proportions. In many cases, physical exercises are complemented by the consumption of steroids or anabolic steroids that help increase muscle mass. In this way, vigorexia becomes even more dangerous, since the abusive use of this type of substance increases the risk of prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction and other diseases. Compulsive physical activity and the use of anabolic steroids are also often associated with unbalanced diets, with the consumption of foods with a large amount of protein and carbohydrates, which can cause metabolic alterations. Many and serious are the negative consequences that the person suffering from anorexia can experience, not only due to excessive sports, but also due to poor diet and the abuse of anabolic steroids. However, among all of them, fluid retention, the appearance of acne and heart problems stand out.
It should also be added that women suffering from this disorder may experience alteration in their menstrual cycle, while men may experience testicular atrophy or reduced sperm levels. It is believed that four out of every 10,000 people suffer from vigorexia, with those with low self-esteem and a tendency to addictive behaviors being more prone. The treatment of vigorexia is mainly psychological so that the person overcomes the fear of failure and improves her self-esteem.
