Muscle dysmorphia: Could it be classified as an addiction to body image?

Background: Muscle dysmorphia (MD) describes a condition characterised by a misconstrued body image in whichindividuals who interpret their body size as both small or weak even though they may look normal or highly muscular.MD has been conceptualized as a type of body dysmorphic disorder, an eating disorder, and obsessive–compulsivedisorder symptomatology. Method and aim: Through a review of the most salient literature on MD, this paperproposes an alternative classification of MD – the ‘Addiction to Body Image’ (ABI) model – using Griffiths (2005)addiction components model as the framework in which to defineMDas an addiction. Results: It is argued the addictiveactivity in MD is the maintaining of body image via a number of different activities such as bodybuilding, exercise,eating certain foods, taking specific drugs (e.g., anabolic steroids), shopping for certain foods, food supplements,and the use or purchase of physical exercise accessories). In the ABI model, the perception of the positive effectson the self-body image is accounted for as a critical aspect of the MD condition (rather than addiction to exerciseor certain types of eating disorder). Conclusions: Based on empirical evidence to date, it is proposed that MDcould be re-classified as an addiction due to the individual continuing to engage in maintenance behaviours that maycause long-term harm.