JAKARTA - Currently, there is a worrying condition in young men, which requires the attention of parents. The condition that occurs in most young men is bigorexia.
Bigorexia is a psychological disorder in which a person has an excessive obsession with the size and shape of the body, thus forming a negative view of the body itself.
"Bigorexia is a psychological condition and a type of body dysmorphic disorder, which involves a distorted self-image that focuses specifically on muscle size and physical appearance," said certified eating disorder therapist Kara Backer, quoted from Huffpost, Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
Individuals who experience bigorexia will think that they are not muscular enough, even though they already have it. This ultimately leads to unhealthy behaviors, such as excessive exercise.
"This belief can then lead to unhealthy behaviors, including obsessive exercise, and can lead to changes in a person's eating patterns," said clinical psychologist Amy Gooding.
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This condition can actually affect anyone, but now it is more common in men, especially those who are still teenagers. A study shows that 22 percent of adolescent boys engage in "muscle-oriented disordered eating behaviors".
They generally make efforts to gain weight with the consumption of supplements, changes in diet, and even the use of steroids which are increasingly common.
The occurrence of bigorexia is influenced by many factors, ranging from biological, psychological, sociocultural, family history with mental health conditions, especially disorders related to body image and anxiety, to people with low self-esteem. Consumption of content on social media related to excessive body muscles can also be a contributing factor.
In facing bigorexia, it is still full of challenges, because this condition is still not recognized by many people. A person who suffers from it may also find it difficult to open up and ask for help to overcome the condition.
"Those who struggle may hesitate to ask for help because of shame, secrecy, or the normalization of the behavior in the community," said pediatric specialist Jason Nagata.
Therefore, the role of parents is very needed to prevent and help deal with bigorexia in adolescents. Starting from limiting the use of social media, to talking and listening to children's stories openly.
"Limit your consumption of social media as much as possible. Listen to what they say, how they interpret what they see, make sure they understand the reality of what they see and don't immediately believe it," he concluded.
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