At the Crossroads between Eating Disorders and Body Dysmorphic Disorders—The Case of Bigorexia Nervosa

Abstract

Bigorexia nervosa (BN) is a controversial nosological entity, considered either a feeding/eating disorder (FED) or a subtype of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). This rapid review aims to explore the characteristic features of BN and identify evidence-based therapeutic interventions for this condition. Three electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar) were searched for relevant information about BN, and 26 reports were reviewed in detail. The results showed that bodybuilders, weightlifters, and other populations involved in athletic activities are the most vulnerable to the onset of this disorder. Patients with BN should also be screened for physical and psychiatric comorbidities and complications, such as anabolic steroid use disorder, physical exercise addiction, and depressive or anxiety disorders. The main differential diagnoses for BN are schizophrenia spectrum disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, bodily distress disorder, and obsessive–compulsive disorders. Using validated screening instruments is considered very important from a clinical perspective, with the aim of providing early identification of this disorder. Therapeutic interventions for patients with BN are still in the early phases of development, and no specific pharmacological treatment has yet been identified. Since it is similar to the obsessive–compulsive spectrum, cognitive behavioral therapy has been suggested as a useful intervention; however, it has not yet been validated in large-scale clinical trials. In conclusion, based on the reviewed data, clarifying the concept of BN is of practical importance for constructing adequate prevention strategies and validating proper therapeutic interventions.

Body image and willingness to change it—A study of university students in Poland

“…This disorder afflicts mainly men [ 26 ], but it has also been increasingly observed in young women [ 3 ]. Physical dysmorphia is synonymous with “reverse anorexia”, which was first described in the literature in the 1980s on the example of a group of body-builders [ 27 ]. Bigorexia encompasses environmental factors, such as social media influence, lack of self-confidence, peer pressure and eating attitudes, as well as personality traits, such as perfectionism [ 3 ].…”