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47: Boys and men who display a muscular physique that's 'ripped', or 'cut' get more likes and shares than other accounts on social media, so the algorithms behind the platforms are feeding a strong trend in muscle building amongst teen boys. But who ends up feeding the ravenously hungry, and is it all healthy?
Louise has asked us for help with how to manage feeding her growing lad. Her son – who’s 17 - goes to the gym to muscle-build five days a week and then expects her to provide him with the foods that go with his lifestyle. With the current financial climate, she says can’t afford to provide him with all the food to match his gym needs. She expects him to ask if he wants to take food because some of it is earmarked for an evening meal or baking. Sometimes he asks, sometimes he just helps himself. She says they’re continually falling out over this and she'd like some tips on how to deal with it.
The term Bigorexia was raised during my interview with Mike Nicholson from Progressive Masculinity. It's used to describe a particular form of body dysmorphia and controlled eating that's hard to spot, because the people suffering look outwardly super-healthy. It's a growing issue, and little understood, so we decided to use this episode to talk about both problems and give you some ideas for how to tackle them.
RESOURCES:
Do you have body dysmorphic disorder? Check here: https://bddfoundation.org/information/do-i-have-bdd-test/
HELP LINES
· https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/
· https://bdd.iocdf.org/
· https://www.itv.com/thismorning/articles/eating-disorder-helplines
· www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
RESEARCH USED:
· https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a41133394/bigorexia-muscle-dysmorphia-special-report/
· https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-02-social-media-linked-symptoms-muscle.html
‘The day you start lifting is the day you become forever small’: Bodybuilders explain muscle dysmorphia
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13634593221093494
More Muscles, More “Likes”: The Rise of Bigorexia and How Social Media is Fueling Unhealthy Body Image Among Young Men
in Behavioral Health, Clinical, Mental Health EHR, Outpatient Care by Darice Warren
Thanks for listening.
Neither of us has medical training so please seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping.
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www.teenagersuntangled.com
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www.amindful-life.co.uk
02:46 - Re-connecting with an older teen.
03:44 - Are we doing too much?
06:12 - Managing food needs at home.
18:31 - Bigorexia; what it is and how to support your teen.
