Bigorexia Is Making a Comeback and Young Men Are at the Highest Risk

How gym culture, social media, and performance drugs are reshaping body image for everyone

What bigorexia actually means

Bigorexia, also known as muscle dysmorphia, is a body image condition where a person believes they are not muscular enough, no matter how strong or lean they become. The mirror never confirms progress.

Instead, it reinforces the idea that more size, more definition, and more effort are required. This belief system is what makes bigorexia especially dangerous. The body may be healthy, but the mind insists it is inadequate.

Mental health researchers often describe muscle dysmorphia as a subtype of body dysmorphic disorder. One widely cited estimate notes that “muscle dysmorphia affects between 1–3 percent of the general population, but rates are far higher among weightlifters and bodybuilders.”

Why bigorexia is harder to detect

Unlike eating disorders that lead to visible weight loss, bigorexia often hides behind behaviors society praises. Discipline, consistency, and physical transformation are celebrated in gym culture. A person who trains twice a day, tracks every gram of protein, and never misses a workout is often admired, not questioned.

This makes bigorexia difficult to spot. The warning signs tend to live in thoughts and rituals rather than appearance. People with bigorexia often believe they are small, weak, or soft even when others see them as muscular. They may avoid social events to protect training schedules or experience anxiety if they miss a workout. Clinicians have observed that “individuals with muscle dysmorphia report distress levels similar to those seen in anorexia nervosa.”

What sufferers of bigorexia believe

At its core, bigorexia is built on a set of rigid beliefs. Sufferers often believe their worth is tied directly to muscle size or leanness. They may believe respect, safety, or attractiveness is conditional on looking powerful. Many also believe they will finally feel confident after the next gain, the next cut, or the next cycle, even though that feeling rarely arrives.

These beliefs are reinforced daily by algorithm-driven feeds. Scroll long enough and the message becomes clear: bigger is better, leaner is elite, and rest is weakness.

Twenty years of shifting trends

Over the last two decades, body ideals for men have changed dramatically. In the early 2000s, lean and athletic was the dominant look. Today, hyper-muscular physiques dominate fitness platforms. Research tracking male body ideals found that “the muscular ideal for men has increased steadily in size and leanness since the early 2000s.”

The rise of social media accelerated this shift. Platforms reward extreme visuals, not moderation. Before-and-after photos, shredded physiques, and viral transformation videos set a new baseline that few bodies can reach naturally.

Gym culture, social media, and drug normalization

Modern gym culture does not exist in isolation. It is deeply intertwined with influencer marketing. Supplements, peptides, anabolic steroids, and even illicit drugs are often discussed casually, framed as tools rather than risks. Public health experts warn that “anabolic steroid use among young men has increased alongside exposure to fitness content on social media.”

More troubling is the crossover into harder substances. Investigative reporting has documented fitness influencers openly discussing stimulant use, including crystal meth, as a way to cut fat, suppress appetite, or train longer. What was once fringe behavior is now packaged as edgy honesty.

Women and the muscle mommy effect

For years, bigorexia was discussed almost exclusively in men. That is changing. The muscle mommy trend has introduced a new ideal for women that emphasizes size, strength, and extreme leanness. While strength training has many benefits, the pressure to look a certain way can mirror the same psychological traps seen in men.

Recent surveys suggest that “rates of muscle dissatisfaction among women have doubled in the last decade.” Women are increasingly exposed to the same cycles of comparison, enhancement drugs, and identity tied to physique.

How to tell if someone has bigorexia

Bigorexia is less about how someone looks and more about how they think and behave. Constant mirror checking, distress when missing workouts, strict food rules, and avoidance of social situations are common signs. So is an escalating relationship with supplements or drugs in pursuit of an ever-moving goal.

A simple way to frame it is this: when fitness stops improving quality of life and starts shrinking it, something is wrong.

Trend snapshot: muscle-focused body pressure over time

Finding balance again

Fitness should support mental health, not undermine it. Conversations about recovery, realistic expectations, and long-term well-being are starting to re-emerge, but they are still quieter than the noise of extremes. Wellness brands like Aromedy are leaning into a more balanced approach to strength, nutrition, and mental health, emphasizing sustainability over spectacle.

For deeper reading, research summaries from the National Institute of Mental Health and analysis from the American Psychological Association continue to highlight the mental health risks tied to distorted body ideals and performance drug use.

Medical Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical or mental health condition. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional or licensed mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here.