Muscle dysmorphia or Adonis complex

It is included within the body dysmorphic disorders, in which patients have an obsessive fixation on a feature of their physique that they perceive as defective, be it real or imaginary. In spite of everything, this disorder is not included in the international classification of psychiatric diseases. The term vigorexia, the most popular, was coined by the American psychiatrist Harrison Graham Pope in 1993.

How is it produced?

In Spain there are approximately 700,000 cases of muscle dysmorphia, with a clear predominance among men in the 15 to 35 age range.

In general, these are people who have a low, a lack of self-confidence and a low degree of maturity, so that they become obsessed with their physical appearance and taking care of their body makes them feel better.

Physical activity is, logically, recommended and practicing a sport causes the body to secrete substances, endorphins, which cause satisfaction and well-being, as well as a certain degree of dependence on them, which allows the realization of physical activity with assiduity. In the case of people with vigorexia, these endorphins play a role in addiction to physical activity, but they alone cannot explain the cause of this disease; There must be an underlying disorder of lack of self-esteem and low self-confidence for the psychiatric disturbance to manifest.

From a sociological point of view, it is argued that patients with muscle dysmorphia present an alteration in the perception of the role of masculinity, in which men are obsessed with acquiring an unreal cultural ideal in which muscle is the image of masculinity .

For this disorder to occur there must be three situations:

• A dependency on physical activity that focuses everything and leads to an avoidance of other aspects of the person's life, such as work, friends, family, etc.
• A tolerance to physical activity and the emotional reward that its practice entails, in such a way that they require more and more activity to achieve the same degree of satisfaction.
• A suppression, that is, a state of discomfort or weakness when they have not performed physical activity for more than 24 hours, which generates anxiety.

Symptoms

Patients with Adonis complex are young people who perform physical activity in moderation in principle but gradually manifest a constant dissatisfaction with their bodies and make their whole world revolve around achieving an ideal of a muscular body that is never enough. These patients are always seen with low muscle mass and low-toned muscles.

They undergo sessions of physical activity that can be strenuous, for hours and several days a week. They constantly seek to increase muscle mass and very frequently focusing on the trunk and upper extremities, with which these patients present a body disproportion, the lower extremities being thinner. To achieve this increase in muscle mass, many of them resort to the use of anabolics. Anabolic steroids, generally derived from testosterone, simply produce an increase in muscle mass, without this entailing an increase in strength or agility or endurance of the body. Anabolics have many side effects, namely:

• impotence
• enlargement of the mammary glands
• testicular atrophy and decreased sperm quality
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• and irritability
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• edema and fluid retention

In addition to extreme physical activity, patients with vigorexia become obsessed with their diet, consuming large amounts of protein and carbohydrates, while reducing fat intake to zero. They often take protein derivatives to increase muscle mass which, in the long run, can lead to kidney problems. Sometimes this disease can occur together with other eating disorders, such as anorexia or.

Patients with muscle dysmorphia may experience dizziness, headaches, and, in severe cases, heart muscle disorders that can lead to heart rhythm disorders, heart failure or even.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of muscle dysmorphia or vigorexia will be clinical, in the case of a patient who focuses his life on physical activity and diet to achieve an increase in muscle mass, neglecting other areas of his life and with a probable use of anabolics.

In general, these patients do not ask for help on their own, they are not aware of the disease; What is more, they are convinced that they lead a very healthy life, given that they are physically active and “take care” of their diet.

Treatment

If a patient with Adonis complex is able to agree to undergo treatment, the approach, as in most psychiatric disorders, will be multidisciplinary. The use of anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs such as clomipramine may be helpful.

Likewise, these patients can benefit from one, cognitive or group. It will also require the help of a nutritionist to re-educate them both with regard to food and its relationship with physical activity.

Precautionary measures

There are no specific preventive measures against muscle dysmorphia. If you suspect that a close person suffers from it, you should try to reason with him so that he can be put in the hands of a psychiatric professional.

• These patients are always seen with low muscle mass and low-toned muscles.
• They undergo strenuous bouts of physical activity, and often turn to anabolics.
• They do not ask for help on their own, as they are convinced that they lead a very healthy life, given that they are physically active and “take care” of their diet.