Do you lift? You are suffering from Bigorexia!

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) It has often been perceived that women are constantly fixated on their diets. Now, a growing number of men have become obsessed with bulking up.

The new trend has been called bigorexia and it could come with some serious health consequences.

Early in his career, personal trainer Alfonso Moretti was obsessed with building his own muscles.

It takes over your life. Every decision you make becomes 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 at 3 oclock in the morning to drink protein shakes. I never missed a workout, ever, ever, ever, he told CBS 2s Maurice Dubois.

As many as 45-percent of men have fallen victim to bigorexia or muscle dysmorphia, according to Dr. Michele Kerulis the director of sports & health psychology at the Adler School of Professional Psychology.

I can remember as young as 13 or 14, looking at some of these muscle magazines, and I was conditioned to think thats what a man looked like. Big shoulders, big legs, just big muscles with veins everywhere, Moretti said.

The emotional impact can be devastating.

We see psychological abnormalities, including irritability, angry outbursts, which sometimes people would call roid rage. We see depression sometimes, mania, Dr. Kerulis said.

The excessive exercising could put men at a higher risk for physical injury, too.

I had a ruptured disc in my neck and it basically paralyzed me on the right side of my body, Moretti explained.

The injuries caused by bigorexia can range from muscle strains and stress factors to organ failure.

Individuals who have bigorexia, a lot of them tend to use supplements and if 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 you could eventually die, explained Dr. Selene Parekh an associate professor at Duke University.

Moretti underwent surgery for his injury and said that it was a wake-up call. Now, he helps other men avoid bigorexia by training them with realistic workouts and goals for his body.

I look back now and I see those pictures and Im like wow, like I would never want to look like that guy, he said.

The disorder is treatable with behavior therapy and supervised exercise treatments, according to experts.

Source.

I can remember as young as 13 or 14, looking at some of these muscle magazines, and I was conditioned to think thats what a man looked like. Big shoulders, big legs, just big muscles with veins everywhere, Moretti said.

It's so out of the ordinary to hear a boy fall victim to something like this.

I can remember as young as 13 or 14, looking at some of these muscle magazines, and I was conditioned to think thats what a man looked like. Big shoulders, big legs, just big muscles with veins everywhere, Moretti said.Trail_Mix

It's so out of the ordinary to hear a boy fall victim to something like this.

I can remember as young as 13 or 14, looking at some of these muscle magazines, and I was conditioned to think thats what a man looked like. Big shoulders, big legs, just big muscles with veins everywhere, Moretti said.Trail_Mix

It's so out of the ordinary to hear a boy fall victim to something like this.

Does it count if only a certain part of me suffers from bigorexia?Makhaidos

zing!

topic: I'm 170 cm and 57 kg. No muscle infatuation for me.

No, it isn't...EagleEyedOne

Yeah but it happens just as often. Nobody talks about it though.cain006

There is nothing wrong with lifting 3 times a week for about 30-45 minutes each time with about 30 minutes of cardio on your off days.

All you need is a balanced diet.  I typically consume a plant based whole foods diet with some lean meats thrown in.

I can remember as young as 13 or 14, looking at some of these muscle magazines, and I was conditioned to think thats what a man looked like. Big shoulders, big legs, just big muscles with veins everywhere, Moretti said.Trail_Mix

It's so out of the ordinary to hear a boy fall victim to something like this.

It seems to happen pretty often.  If not with the body-building image than with the Abercrombie/Calvin Klein model image.  It is true though, body dysmoprhia is barely covered at all when it comes to boys.  No one really mentions unrealistic standards like they do as soon as a girl comments on a female model's body.

There is nothing wrong with lifting 3 times a week for about 30-45 minutes each time with about 30 minutes of cardio on your off days.

 

All you need is a balanced diet.  I typically consume a plant based whole foods diet with some lean meats thrown in.

GummiRaccoon

Those are oddly specific times lol.

[QUOTE="GummiRaccoon"]

There is nothing wrong with lifting 3 times a week for about 30-45 minutes each time with about 30 minutes of cardio on your off days.

 

All you need is a balanced diet.  I typically consume a plant based whole foods diet with some lean meats thrown in.

TacticalDesire

Those are oddly specific times lol.

Doctors recommend you excersize for 30 minutes a day.  Lifting takes slightly longer.  

aint not!KiIIyou

aint it bossman.

I dont even lift for the aesthetics I like to feel strong but frankly I dont have enough dedication to get anywhere close to suffering from Bigorexia.

I suppose lifting is good for some people and not so much for others. For me, it got me off drinking multiple times a week. I only drink maybe once every 2 weeks and never get drunk anymore. It has definitely been a very positive thing in my life. It releases stress and makes me feel like a strong beast.

I've been diligently lifting for about 2-3 years now and I can see how people can take it too seriously. 

What people should know is that pretty much everyone who has the body of a Greek god has or does taking performance enhancing drugs, certainly every fitness model does.  Unless you are part of a very small group of people with fantastic genetics one can almost never achieve that look, especially getting massive, without steroids.  I think this knowledge would clear a lot of things up and give people more realistic expectations.  There is one exception though and that's teenagers who have naturally high levels of testosterone which is in essence natures own steroids.  But if you don't take advantage of that when your a teenager you will likely never get big naturally.

People obsessed with personal image and how other people see them is the way I see it.

What people should know is that pretty much everyone who has the body of a Greek god has or does taking performance enhancing drugs, certainly every fitness model does.  Unless you are part of a very small group of people with fantastic genetics one can almost never achieve that look, especially getting massive, without steroids.  I think this knowledge would clear a lot of things up and give people more realistic expectations.  There is one exception though and that's teenagers who have naturally high levels of testosterone which is in essence natures own steroids.  But if you don't take advantage of that when your a teenager you will likely never get big naturally.

junglist101

what are old man arms

Women with muscle >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> fat women.

fat women are ew