Muscle Dysmorphia - Research Paper Example

Muscle Dysmorphia Give a definition of the health problem Muscle Dysmorphia (MD) is a psychological condition identified recently whereby muscular men experiencing this predicament deem they are not muscular. They see themselves as being smaller than how they actually appear. Muscle Dysmorphia is similar to how eating disorders present in women in that men have cognitive distortions and behavioural indications that maintain the predicament (Grieve, Truba & Bowersox, 2009). The MD diagnostic criteria include men with levels of muscularity and strong desires to increasing musculature, excessive weight lifting despite injuries, extreme dieting plus diet supplements and steroids for increasing lean muscles and lack of personal relationships due to limited time required for engaging socially (Grieve & Shacklette, 2012).

Describe some contributing factors/risk factors of this health problem A driving force behind men developing MD is a sense of them being dissatisfied with their bodies. This occurs when an individual is obese or over weight and has the desire to lose weight or is underweight as well as having the desire to gain some weight. Body distortion is also another factor contributing to contraction of this problem MD. People who feel and believe that they are smaller or bigger than their actual size are at an increased risk of developing MD.

The media also plays a big role in development of MD. This is because it depicts the ideal body shape, which has negative effects on body satisfaction in men. Ideal body internalization is the acceptance of the ideal body shape for which all males should strive to achieve and leads to MD (Grieve, Truba & Bowersox, 2009). Men participating in sports have a likelihood of developing MD especially where they have to maintain a certain weight or where they need to increase muscle mass or body size.

Low self-esteem is another factor that independently influences the development of MD. People whose self-esteem depends on appearance have a high likelihood of developing MD (Grieve, Truba & Bowersox, 2009). Studies also show that feelings of anxiety and depression directly influence the development of Muscle Dysmorphia. This is because MD provides an individual with the motivation to change appearance and/or behavior (Grieve & Shacklette, 2012).Indicate some consequences of this health problem MD is problematic because of the prevalence of sex hormones, anabolic-androgenic steroids and other muscle enhancing substances.

As much as anabolic-androgenic steroids increase muscle mass, they have serious psychological and physical side effects that include cholestatic jaundice, stroke, hypertension, pulmonary embolism, blood clots, mood changes, psychotic episodes and paranoia MD (Grieve, Truba & Bowersox, 2009).Give at least 2 pieces of epidemiologic information Seventy three percent of males with MD, who use steroids to gain muscle mass, reported having symptoms of the disorder for around a year before starting to use the steroids.

This suggests that in most cases, the use of anabolic steroids is a symptom of MD rather than a factor contributing to the development of the disorder (Murray, Rieger, Touyz & De la Garza, 2010). Twenty nine percent of men suffering from MD have suffered from a different clinical eating disorder in the past, in which the rate is far much higher than the rate for other males with different psychiatric conditions. This means that the progression between body disturbance and different eating disorders is consistent with the fact that all eating disorders have a common pathogenesis.

Therefore, the migration between different eating disorders is quite common (Murray, Rieger, Touyz & De la Garza, 2010).ReferencesGrieve, F. G., & Shacklette, M. D. (2012). Brief Report on Mens Bodies and Mood: Correlates between Depressive Symptoms and Muscle Dysmorphia Symptoms. North American Journal Of Psychology, 14(3), 563-567. Grieve, F. G., Truba, N., & Bowersox, S. (2009). Etiology, Assessment, and Treatment of Muscle Dysmorphia. Journal Of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 23(4), 306-314. doi:10.1891/0889-8391.23.4.306.Murray, S. B., Rieger, E.

, Touyz, S. W., & De la Garza García, L. (2010). Muscle dysmorphia and the DSM-V conundrum: Where does it belong? A review paper. International Journal Of Eating Disorders, 43(6), 483-491.