FORTY FIVE per cent of men have suffered from ‘bigorexia’ out of muscle …

By
James Nye

PUBLISHED:

05:18 GMT, 18 August 2013

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UPDATED:

07:09 GMT, 18 August 2013

Health professionals are warning of the growing and potentially deadly obsession with body building among men - labeling the trend 'bigorexia'.

As many as 45 perent of men are believed to suffer from muscle dysmorphia or bigorexia at one point in their lives and the supplements used to build this muscle can potentially lead to kidney and liver damage.

Mesmerized by magazine covers of well-toned men, recent research has revealed that men are insecure about their weight and body image and go to obsessive lengths down the gym to change this fact.

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Bigorexia: Alfonso Moretti explained how he became obsessed with increasing the size of his muscles

'About 45 percent of men are dissatisfied with their body image. 1 in 10 people who are diagnosed with an eating disorder is a man,' said Dr. Michele Kerulis the director of sports health psychology at the Adler School of Professional Psychology.

The desire to bulk-up left one trainer, Alfonso Moretti struggling to function as he became fixated on his body and muscles.

Alfonso eventually had surgery after his obsessive body building caused him a neck injury

Obsessive: Moretti said that he caused himself to become compulsive about his weight and body

'It takes over your life, so every decision you make becomes about the workout and how your body looks. I used to track and weigh every single ounce of food that went in my body, I used to wake up a 3 o'clock in the morning to drink protein shakes, I never missed a workout, ever, ever, ever,' said Alfonso to CBS New York.

Dr. Kerulis said that men of all ages are falling victim to the condition and the effects are not just physical.

'This obsession can start quickly or it can begin over a period of time. We see psychological abnormalities including irritability, angry outbursts, which sometimes people would call a 'roid rage,' we see depression sometimes mania,' said Kerulis.

It was this desire to become as well defined as he could that set Alfonso's life off the rails.

'I can remember as young as 13, 14 looking at some of these muscle magazines, and I was conditioned to think that's what a man looked like so big shoulders, big legs, just big muscles with veins everywhere,' said the personal trainer.

Recovery: Alfonso has now recovered and treats his exercise as a means to become healthy not to alter his body shape

Physically pushing himself to the point where he needed surgery was the wake up call that Alfonso needed.

'I finally came to a revelation, only after 11 or 12 years because I had neck surgery,' explains Alfonso.

'I had major neck surgery. I had ruptured a disc in my neck, and it basically paralyzed me on the right side of my body.'

Dr. Selene Parekh also warned of the internal damage that bigorexia eventually can cause.

'So individuals who have 'bigorexia,' a lot of them tend to use supplements and if you, you overdose on these supplements, without having a balanced diet you can develop kidney and liver failure, and as that happens you may need a liver or kidney transplant or your could eventually die,' said Parekh.

Now recovered, Alfonso is now working to encourage other men to have a healthy body image and to try realistic workouts.

The comments below have not been moderated.

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Bigger is better in only one part of the male body.

Sara Rose
,

Portland, United States,
18/8/2013 14:48

45%??? absolutely not just look around not that many Guys walk around with bulging biceps .

jamesusa
,

garrison usa,
18/8/2013 14:32

This happened one time. I could not believe the news when I heard it. What I heard was running actually makes regenerate faster. That brings on aging. When I heard that, I knew that was the last time a news cast would be made like that. BUT... Have you ever met a runner that looks younger. They may be healthy, but any running competition does any runner at all look younger than their age? Strength training does not cause you cells to regenerate faster. Too much of anything is not good. HAVE YOU EVER MET A YOUTHFUL LOOKING RUNNER?

code0111
,

Springfield, United Kingdom,
18/8/2013 13:55

"Bigorexia" ? The proper medical term is doucehbagitous.

Adam Smith
,

New York, New York,
18/8/2013 13:35

Mos of these BIG muscle men I see around the country I believe are a bunch of posers
and the bulk of them have bald heads and if one cant muster the strength to grow hair
on their heads it does'nt say much for their STRENGTH of body!

Anthony Cotterill
,

Leek Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom,
18/8/2013 12:42

Without these muscle hamsters, Ed Hardy and Affliction would go out of business.
No more smediums!

me
,

crazy world,
18/8/2013 12:14

Better than eating McDonald's and being unhealthy and obese!

Jeff
,

Pueblo USA,
18/8/2013 12:12

That ain't big that's sculpted - hell of a difference.

Ian
,

Gloucester,
18/8/2013 12:10

Norbert_Colon, Fulchester, United Kingdom, 8/18/13, 8:30 AM

Really?? Liking tattoos is a psychological disorder? Funny!!!
Just seems to me that most people are afraid to be different from the "social norm"

me
,

crazy world,
18/8/2013 11:57

So being healthy is an obsession now? Who wants to bet that show was made by some fat ass "Fat pride" feminist?

Ludford
,

Birmingham, United Kingdom,
18/8/2013 11:32

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