Kontakt 2021, 23(2):133-137 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2021.014

Introduction to bigorexiaSocial Sciences in Health - Review article

Šárka Tovt, Alena Kajanová*
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Institute of Social and Special-paedagogical Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

Bigorexia was first mentioned in the early 20th century in the USA. It is an unanchored disease with elements of obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is characterized by an obsession with the appearance of one's body, fear of not having enough muscles, and the urgent need for excessive physical exercise. The disorder can cause other serious illnesses and is also often associated with dependence on anabolic steroids or other addictive substances. The aim of this article is to provide basic information about the problem of bigorexia, including the diagnosis and treatment. It also deals with the possible health and social risks in people suffering from bigorexia. This article presents a set of results of the existing literature in the field of muscle dysmorphia from Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and other related scientific databases. The studied professional articles were not limited by the date of publication, as the original works provide insight into the initial investigation of bigorexia and the mapping of this disease. The search was performed using keywords related to the issue. The scientific articles were supplemented by diagnostic and statistical manuals and monographs. The research revealed that the issue of bigorexia is mainly dealt with in foreign countries. In the Czech Republic, relevant data regarding this disease is currently lacking. The existing foreign research has mainly been applied to the male population. The data in the female population is mostly missing.

Keywords: Adonis complex; Bigorexia; Body dysmorphic disorder; Muscle dysmorphia

Received: December 28, 2020; Revised: February 21, 2021; Accepted: March 12, 2021; Prepublished online: April 12, 2021; Published: May 5, 2021  Show citation

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Tovt Š, Kajanová A. Introduction to bigorexia. Kontakt. 2021;23(2):133-137. doi: 10.32725/kont.2021.014.
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