Muscle dysmorphia in men: challenges in classification and recognition

Muscle dysmorphia (MD) is a condition marked by increased preoccupation with increasing muscle size and sculpting the body to achieve a very defined muscular look akin to a bodybuilder's physique. First described in the 1990s, MD is still a condition about which little is known and there exists an ongoing debate regarding its classification, manifestations and best ways to treat it. It is undeniably closely linked with conditions on the eating disorder spectrum and this proximity has invited many opinions to challenge its classification under the umbrella of body dysmorphic disorders. Further exacerbating the efforts to understand MD is the fact that, so far, little work has been done to understand the depth at which it is affecting our society and extent of its presence among individuals. More work is needed to understand the intricacies of this condition and to clarify its position among other body image-centric conditions; only then will we be able to address it fully and take tangible steps to alleviate its symptoms.