Bigorexia: When Fitness Becomes an Obsession

At first, interest in exercising might start as a way to adopt a healthier lifestyle. You stop constant snacking and eating unprocessed food and start going to the gym. Everything seems fine. You have more energy, become leaner, and feel more active.

But suddenly, fitness culture takes over. Going to the gym three times a week is not enough. Eating fiber doesn’t help with muscle growth anymore, so you keep increasing protein intake. You become obsessed with fitness influencers, whose views on body image shape your perspective.

You might think this is normal and healthy, but in reality, you may be developing a body dysmorphic disorder, bigorexia nervosa. It occurs when an individual develops a compulsive desire to increase muscle mass. In this article, we will discuss the early signs, treatment, and factors that contribute to its development.

What is bigorexia?

Unlike anorexia nervosa, when a person sees themselves as too big and wants to get smaller, people with bigorexia nervosa want the opposite. Their desire to get bigger stems from wanting to build muscle while staying lean and minimizing fat.

“It is much more than a passionate hobby,” warns a Double Board-Certified Addiction Psychiatrist and Clinical Advisor at The Garden New Jersey, Dr. Lauren Grawert. “It is a neurological loop whereby the brain reward circuitry never feels like it is satisfied, regardless of the amount of progress that is made.”

Although it is mainly considered a body dysmorphic disorder, some specialists see it as a part of the feeding and eating (FED) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) spectrum. The classification depends on which symptoms are more important.

However, according to a Double Board-Certified Physician in Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation, and Sports Medicine, Clinical Advisor at Ikon Recovery Center, Dr. Mariam Zakhary, there is a diagnostic challenge: “It arises from modern fitness culture, where people applaud extreme training as a ‘virtue’ rather than a health crisis.” So if you experience these symptoms, it might be time to seek specialist help:

• Excessive physical exercise
• Preoccupation with diet and calories
• Change in eating habits (usually higher protein intake)
• Frequently criticizing yourself in the mirror
• Low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression
• Excessive use of supplements or other medications

When fitness becomes pathological

Dr. Grawert says that fitness engagement becomes concerning when you start using the gym as your only way of coping with the stress in your life. She notes that it becomes more obvious when a person begins hiding performance-enhancing supplements from family, feels shame regarding how ‘small’ they feel, and frequently shifts their attention to check their ‘muscle pump’ secretly.

Dr. Zakhary adds that it is important to be mindful of how working on your body impacts your work life or relationships: “Bigorexia can cause ‘occupational paralysis,’ where individuals turn down promotions or travel because they fear losing access to their gym equipment or meals.”

‘Bulking’ and ‘cutting’

For years, people who promote bodybuilding have followed ‘bulking’ and ‘cutting’ periods. But what does this mean? A ‘bulking’ cycle is when you eat a surplus of food and lift heavy weights to build muscle mass. After that comes a ‘cutting’ cycle, when you are in a calorie deficit, trying to burn the fat you gained during bulking while preserving the muscle.

According to a 2022 study, nearly 48.9% of men reported having undergone bulk and cut cycles in the past 12 months. This research included 2,762 Canadians aged 16–30 years: 1,061 men, 1,477 women, and 224 transgender/gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals. Compared to men, one in five women and 21.9% of TGNC individuals reported such cycles.

The study found that bulking and cutting were linked to a stronger drive for muscularity, which may lead to more severe eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia symptoms.

However, a recent small study suggests that eating a surplus of food mainly increases fat gain rather than strength or muscle thickness. It concluded that small energy surpluses may be more beneficial for resistance training and muscle gain.

‘Boy kibble’ and social media

If you remember a recent social media trend called ‘girl dinner,’ gym bros came up with their own version. Instead of buttered pasta or cheese boards, they promote eating chicken breast or minced beef with rice. If someone feels inspired, they might add a dash of ketchup, some vegetables, and a fried egg.

This type of eating was once relegated to athletes or bodybuilders. Even though this food trend seems harmless online, it still promotes a certain type of body that people may achieve through protein-rich meals. Especially when some videos advocate it as a way to drop body fat and increase muscle gain.

“Fitness culture on social media presents ‘peak’ physiques, which are often the result of professional lighting and digital editing, as a normal and healthy everyday look,” says Dr. Zakhary. She further adds, “The constant barrage of ‘transformation’ videos trains the brain to value rapid muscle growth over the long-term health of the body's organs and joints.”

For example, a 2025 study examined 1,553 boys and men and the impact of viewing muscularity-focused social media content on their body image. They concluded that seeing images of muscular bodies, topics about supplements, and steroids were linked to a greater likelihood of muscle dysmorphia.

Treatment of bigorexia

Although research on bigorexia nervosa treatment is limited, several strategies have been proposed by specialists:

• Since it is similar to the OCD spectrum, cognitive behavioral therapy is one possible treatment. This therapy helps people change obsessive thoughts about body image and perfectionism. However, its efficacy has not yet been validated in large-scale clinical trials.
• Dialectical behavior therapy, which emphasizes the development of emotion regulation skills, is another therapeutic option.
• Because bigorexia nervosa may be classified as an eating disorder, dietary counseling can help support physical health while avoiding reinforcement of obsessive, muscle growth-oriented eating behaviors.
• Although limited research exists on pharmacological interventions, some small studies suggest that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may be beneficial in treating bigorexia nervosa. Especially when symptoms of anxiety, depression, or obsessive thinking are present.

“We will also utilize motivational interviewing to assist patients in identifying a more meaningful reason for change than wanting larger muscles,” Dr. Grawert explains. “The individual can find relief from the profound isolation and secrecy that perpetuates their muscle dysmorphia by being involved in a support group focused on behavioral addiction.”

Specialists advices for young adults

Here is the advice Dr. Grawert gives on creating a healthy relationship with fitness for young people:

My advice to all young people is to build your self-esteem based upon who you are as a person, as a friend, and as a worker, rather than your physique. Understand that a significant number of the physical idealized physiques that you view online belong to individuals who have succumbed to their compulsions and who lead a lifestyle that lacks any true enjoyment. Diversify your life so that the gym is simply one of several pillars that support your overall identity rather than being the foundational one.

Dr. Grawert

Dr. Zakhary adds her own insights:

I often tell young athletes that real ‘human performance’ comes from how long they can remain healthy and physically active, not simply how big their muscles are today. Additionally, avoid hypermasculine trends that place a high value on one's worth based on how much bigger or stronger they can be than everyone else in the building. If you want to reap the benefits of your hard work later in life, you must balance your training with proper recovery and a well-rounded life outside the gym.

Dr. Zakhary

Bottom line

Even though your fitness routine might seem harmless, it is good to pause and think: do you take a day off from the gym? Are you obsessed with bulking and cutting? Do you only see flaws in yourself when you look in the mirror? Do you count every calorie just to gain more muscle?

If you start answering yes to some of these questions, that may mean you have an unhealthy relationship with fitness. “If you sacrifice your heart or kidney health for a temporary bicep measurement, you have developed a disorder,” sums up Dr. Zakhary.

However, it is never too late to seek help. With a specialist, you can start appreciating your body for what it can do rather than its size.