FORTY FIVE per cent of men have suffered from ‘bigorexia’ out of muscle obsession, claims expert
By James Nye | dailymail.com
Alfonso eventually had surgery after his obsessive body building caused him a neck injury
Health professionals are warning of the growing and potentially deadly obsession with body building among men – labeling the trend ‘bigorexia’. As many as 45 perent of men are believed to suffer from muscle dysmorphia or bigorexia at one point in their lives and the supplements used to build this muscle can potentially lead to kidney and liver damage. Mesmerized by magazine covers of well-toned men, recent research has revealed that men are insecure about their weight and body image and go to obsessive lengths down the gym to change this fact.
About 45 percent of men are dissatisfied with their body image. 1 in 10 people who are diagnosed with an eating disorder is a man,’ said Dr. Michele Kerulis the director of sports & health psychology at the Adler School of Professional Psychology.
Obsessive: Moretti said that he caused himself to become compulsive about his weight and body
It takes over your life, so every decision you make becomes about the workout and how your body looks. I used to track and weigh every single ounce of food that went in my body, I used to wake up a 3 o’clock in the morning to drink protein shakes, I never missed a workout, ever, ever, ever,’ said Alfonso to CBS New York.
Dr. Kerulis said that men of all ages are falling victim to the condition and the effects are not just physical.
‘This obsession can start quickly or it can begin over a period of time. We see psychological abnormalities including irritability, angry outbursts, which sometimes people would call a ‘roid rage,’ we see depression sometimes mania,’ said Kerulis.
It was this desire to become as well defined as he could that set Alfonso’s life off the rails.
‘I can remember as young as 13, 14 looking at some of these muscle magazines, and I was conditioned to think that’s what a man looked like so big shoulders, big legs, just big muscles with veins everywhere,’ said the personal trainer.
Physically pushing himself to the point where he needed surgery was the wake up call that Alfonso needed.
‘I finally came to a revelation, only after 11 or 12 years because I had neck surgery,’ explains Alfonso.
‘I had major neck surgery. I had ruptured a disc in my neck, and it basically paralyzed me on the right side of my body.’
Dr. Selene Parekh also warned of the internal damage that bigorexia eventually can cause.
‘So individuals who have ‘bigorexia,’ a lot of them tend to use supplements and if you, you overdose on these supplements, without having a balanced diet you can develop kidney and liver failure, and as that happens you may need a liver or kidney transplant or your could eventually die,’ said Parekh.
Now recovered, Alfonso is now working to encourage other men to have a healthy body image and to try realistic workouts.
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4 Comments on “FORTY FIVE per cent of men have suffered from 'bigorexia' out of muscle obsession, claims expert”
1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Not saying don’t be healthy, just don’t be vain about it. Leads ( easily ) to self worship. To the older men (me) , just keep the lights and gas on, this makes you very attractive. And to all men, please stay out of the mirror.
You know what makes a man attractive? Selflessness. A man who is faithful to his wife, serves his family by helping with keeping the home clean and in order without catching an attitude because we need your help. Remembering that he who wants to be the greatest must become the servant of all. Rearing the children to be godly and respectful. Considering your wife with gentleness. Putting away lording over your wife your headship rather leading by example. Practicing the golden rule. Shoot, LIVING BY THE GOLDEN RULE. And not the one that says, he who owns the gold makes the rules. Especially for you men that are the sole providers. Truthfully, women with substance are not nearly as interested in a man’s looks as we are his character. Being responsible, paying the bills on time. Even the verbal compliments don’t mean as much as love in action. You want to be attractive, start by being inwardly attractive. If you’re only thinking about the outside, you’ll attract someone as vain as you are. Just food for thought.
I believe there nothing wrong with working out as long as the person has good intentions. If someone is working out to attract — several women or as a form of revenge it’s not worth it. Most people are taught that “success is the best revenge” but I believe “living well is the best revenge”. Revenge is such a strong word but we just need to know God is going to take care of everything. We just have to contiune to grow spiritual and physical. We have to be health and take care of our temples.
These are the verse that came to mind while reading this article.
Philippians 2:3 – Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves
Galatians 5:26 – Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
1 Timothy 4:8 – For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
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Mark 4:16-17 – And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
1 Corinthians 14:40 – Let all things be done decently and in order.
As a personal trainer and a bodybuilder myself who has trained with weights for many years, I say nothing is wrong with bodybuilding UNTIL it’s taken to the extreme such as what the article alludes to. I have found over time both men and women involved with the bodybuilding culture have unresolved issues that they may have thought working out or competing in shows would fix. Classic case of narcissism!! This is why when the gym or the stage is no longer a part of their life they are depressed and maybe even suicidal because their identity was about how they looked in the mirror, on stage or to people. Throw in the possible amount of the steroids that don’t come cheap folks may have used over time as fuel for that fire!
The Body of Christ should be healthy and fit, otherwise how are we to do the work here on Earth that He wants us to do? Sickness, weakness and disease is not God’s best for us! We just have to be smart about what we eat, drink, vitamins or supplement we take, how we rest, and what, why, and how we exercise! Find a balance!
Training, bodybuilding and all that comes with it is merely what I do, not who I am. So from my standpoint the physical appearance is icing on the cakeI Thank you Lord that is not who You say I am! I purpose to be inwardly fit to serve Him and allow Him to work thru me to save others who need Him.
Verse was mentioned several times in the responses and I totally agree
1 Timothy 4:8 (Amplified Bible) For physical training is of some value (useful for a little) but Godliness (spiritual training) is useful AND of value in everything AND in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.
As I stated before nothing wrong with building your physical strength, but we do ourselves much more good by being strong in Him!
Ephesians 6:10 (KJV) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.