Bigorexia and Anabolic Steroids

MUSCLE DYSMORPHIA AKA BIGOREXIA AND ANABOLIC STEROIDS

Introduction

Oh, social media... Celebrities are on the one hand, influencers are on the other hand. Photos of beautiful bodies in bikinis and short t-shirts are everywhere. While social media and society's perception of women having a beautiful, slim and fit body is at the forefront, when we come across bodybuilding, we see that this situation is on a different level, even to the point of pathology, for men. Bodybuilding is the pursuit of a muscular physique through a weight training regimen and a special nutrition program. It is primarily a male-dominated activity, although there are also female bodybuilders. When this situation is extreme, we call it bigorexia. So, let's clarify this situation, what is bigorexia (muscle dysmorphia)?

Muscle Dysmorphia (Bigorexia)

The growth of bodybuilding culture has increased the prevalence of body image concerns in men. Did it facilitate the emergence of muscle dysmorphia?

It is possible that some individuals with pre-existing psychopathology turn to bodybuilding, eventually resulting in the development of overt muscle dysmorphia. Clinical case studies show that muscle dysmorphia is almost always found in people who are intensely involved in bodybuilding rather than simple weightlifting (Mosley, 2008).

Bigorexia is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), It is defined as a body dysmorphic disorder that triggers the idea that the individual's body is too small or not muscular enough (Watson, 2020).

 

Muscle dysmorphia is primarily a male body disorder. It is an emerging situation that affects developers. Individuals who engage in this behavior are obsessed with being under-muscled. Compulsions include spending hours at the gym, spending excessive amounts of money on ineffective sports supplements, abnormal eating habits, and even substance abuse (anabolic steroid use) (Mosley, 2008).

 

So what are the symptoms of bigorexia?

Although bigorexia may appear in physical forms, it is primarily a psychological condition.

 

Someone with bigorexia may experience some of the following symptoms: may experience:

 

• Obsession with appearance (sometimes referred to as frequently checking oneself in the mirror)

• A fixation (obsession) in your diet and food supplements

• Use of drugs and steroids related to physical fitness

• Depressive moods or dissatisfaction with appearance leading to anger

 

Many symptoms of bigorexia may feel relatively normal. However, the further the goals go, the more you push your body, going forward can be more than just aiming to be fit...

 

When this condition reaches advanced levels and is left untreated, bigorexia can increase and lead to: can lead to:

• steroid abuse

• depression

• suicidal thoughts

• Disordered eating and conditions such as 

• obsessive-compulsive disorder may also play a role.

 

However, it should be noted that there is still some debate in the medical community as to whether bigorexia should simply be classified as a body dysmorphic disorder or whether it has more in common with eating disorders or addiction (Watson , 2020).

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Anabolic steroids are generally used for doping purposes by professional athletes in their active sports lives while preparing for competitions. Doping is used by athletes to increase performance. The combined use of more than one steroid is called stacking. Steroids used by athletes have harmful effects because they are much higher than the doses used for medical purposes (TEMD).

 

They are synthetic substances related to male sexual hormones.

• Anabolic  muscle building

• Androgenic  increased muscle properties

• It refers to the class of steroid substances.

 

More than 100 different muscle-building steroids have been produced by scientists (Ögel, 2020).

 

TEMD (Turkish Endocrinology and Metabolism Association) steroids are steroid hormones related to male hormones and they are:

• Testosterone

• Norandrosterone

• Defined as substances containing nonndrolon.

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• Anabolic steroids are widely used for therapeutic purposes and sports performance.

 

• Depending on the dose, they stimulate cell growth and increase the size of muscle fibers, thus increasing the strength of the muscle mass in the body.

 

• In addition to these features, they also cause an increase in masculine features such as hair growth and deepening of the voice.

 

Some can be taken orally or by injection (needle), while others can be applied to the skin as a gel cream (Ögel, 2020). p>

 

Undesirable Effects of Steroids:

• Lung cancer and tumor

• Jaundice

• High muscle pressure

• Bad cholesterol increases and good cholesterol decreases (LDL up, HDL down)

While the above four effects can be given as examples of the biggest side effects, other side effects include kidney tumor, intense acne, tremors, shrinkage of the testicles and expansion of the chest. Steroids taken by injection also facilitate the transmission of HIV/AIDS or hepatitis viruses that seriously damage the lungs (Ögel,2020).

Withdrawal symptoms:

• Mood changes

• Fatigue

• Tension

• Loss of appetite

• Insomnia

• Decreased sexual desire

• More desire to take too much steroids 

• And DEPRESSION

 

*** Muscle enhancer Some of the symptoms of depression associated with steroid use persisted for up to a year or more after stopping use of the substance It is reported that (Ögel, 2020).

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