Thread by @Positivteacha

🧵 'Bigorexia': The anxiety disorder affecting 1 in 10 young gymgoers in the UK - A thread for teachers and parents 🧵

Content Information: contains reference to eating disorders

'Bigorexia' - also known as muscle dysmorphia - is an anxiety disorder that leads someone to believe that they are too small or skinny, and/or that they are never muscly enough.

Sufferers become fixated on gaining muscle...

This fixation on muscle gain can lead to:
- excessive and dangerous weight training
- restrictive eating practices
- a reliance on anabolic steroids as a means of achieving muscle growth.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Bigorexia is more commonly observed in men than women...

...A 2019 study of nearly 15,000 people found that 22% of men, compared to 5% of women reported eating disorders linked to working out and attempts to gain muscle.

It is believed 1 in 10 young male gymgoers in the UK suffer from Bigorexia.

Average age of onset is 19 yrs old...

...One UK study found that 'almost half (48%) of secondary age boys would consider exercising with the specific intention of building muscle and bulking up.'

Of these boys, 10% would consider taking steroids to achieve their goals...

WHAT CAN TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS DO?

1. Learn to spot the signs of Bigorexia.

Children who are developing Bigorexia, or are already suffering with it, may:

- Exercise excessively
- Display rapid muscle or weight gin
- Miss out on social activities in favour of exercise

- Eat lots of food, regularly
- Be observed regularly using protein shakes or dietary supplements
- Train, despite injury
- Display acne, increased facial hair growth, and enlarged breasts (in males) due to steroid abuse
- Display aggression or mood swings

2. Teach boys about the dangers of steroids abuse.

Abusing steroids for muscle growth can lead to:

- Hair loss
- Breast development
- Severe acne
- Stomach pain
- Increased risk of prostate cancer
- Infertility
- Shrunken testicles
- Erectile dysfunction
- Low sperm count

3. Listen out for language of steroid abuse.

Slang terms for steroids include:

- roids
- gear
- juice

You may overhear boys talking about these things. I know I have.

4. Avoid talking about the body. Stop using phrases like:

- 'Wow. You've shot up over the summer.'
-'I need a few strong boys to help me move this table.'
-'As you can tell, I've eaten a few too many cakes this Christmas!'

Comment on effort, warmth, kindness, humour instead.

Here's a load of further reading.

If you found this interesting, you'll probably find my book, Boys Do Cry, interesting too.

Thanks!

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