“I’m not big enough.”
That’s the voice inside the head of someone with Muscle Dysmorphia — often called reverse anorexia or bigorexia.
While anorexia drives people to shrink, muscle dysmorphia convinces even the strongest, most jacked individuals that they’re too small, too weak, too “skinny.”
It’s not vanity. It’s body dysmorphic disorder in a different form — and it’s alarmingly common in gyms, bodybuilding circles, and high-performance professions.
Signs to watch for (in yourself or others):
- Training 6–7 days a week, even when injured
- Obsessive mirror-checking or avoiding mirrors entirely
- Extreme dieting or supplement reliance (sometimes including steroids)
- Social withdrawal due to feeling “not ready” to be seen
- Anxiety when missing a workout or meal
The irony? The more muscle they build, the smaller they feel.
This isn’t about discipline — it’s about distorted self-perception. And like all mental health challenges, early awareness and support can change everything.
Let’s talk about it.
Have you seen this in your gym, team, or workplace?
How can leaders, coaches, and HR create spaces where strength and mental health are both prioritized?
Tag a coach, trainer, or colleague who needs to see this.
Let’s normalize the conversation around all forms of body image distress — not just the ones we’re used to hearing about.
#MentalHealth #MuscleDysmorphia #BodyDysmorphia #FitnessCulture #WorkplaceWellness #Bigorexia
