Sports and the Mind

It's More Than Just Game

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Male Athletes and Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is currently a disorder in which a person is preoccupied with a real or imagined defect in their appearance. The preoccupation typically involves one aspect of the body, but some have preoccupation with multiple parts as well (Phillips, Menard, Fay & Weisberg, 2005). The most common body image disorder among male athletes is called muscle dysmorphia. The fact remains, many men in the general population express some dissatisfaction with some part of their appearance, but those with muscle dysmorphia have a more extreme preoccupation. This preoccupation can lead to significant distress in social, work or another important area of their life.

Reverse Anorexia

Muscle dysmorphia is often called “reverse anorexia” and it most commonly affects men who want to lose body fat, get bigger and gain weight, rather than losing weight. The root cause of appears to be the fear of being too small.

Symptoms of Muscle Dysmorphia

Men who have muscle dysmorphia have an obsession with their appearance. This means they spend excessive amounts of time thinking about how they look. They generally perform repetitive, time consuming and compulsive behaviors. In addition, men who have muscle dysmorphia tend to avoid other types of relationships because their preoccupation takes up much of their time.

Unfortunately this disorder can get overlooked because getting bigger and having more muscle and spending time at the weight room involves the same athletic behaviors that are common to routines and most coaches are pleased to see their athletes training and exercising with great intensity. As a result, muscle dysmorphia often goes unnoticed as a problem, because the behaviors are thought of as “normal” for athletes.

Signs of Muscle Dysmorphia:

Appearance:

  • Are you concerned about your appearance in any way?
  • What is your concern?

Avoidance:

  • Do your relationships suffer due to preoccupation
  • Do you miss work or school?
  • Is your sex life affected

Time:

  • Do you think about your appearance or wish you could worry about it less?
  • How much time do you spend grooming?
  • How much time are you at the gym?

If you have concerns about this or are concerned about an athlete with this type of disorder you should assist them to see a sports medicine doctor and/or a psychologist. The best treatments are medical(medication) and psychological support.

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About Colleen Hathaway, DC

Dr. Colleen Hathaway is a licensed chiropractor in the state of Wisconsin. Dr. Colleen is a native of Madison, WI and did her undergraduate work at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota obtaining a B.S. in Corporate Fitness Science and Athletic Training. She played basketball for St. Thomas for four years and was the starting point guard on their 1991 NCAA Championship team.
Dr. Colleen completed her chiropractic degree at the Northwestern College of Chiropractic from 1993-1997. She has been in private practice for over 20 years and adores working with people of all walks of life. Her philosophy is grounded in the principles of wellness, balance, support and human performance. She utilizes gentle chiropractic and cranio-sacral techniques, including light touch energy work. Essentially, she works with the body’s innate wisdom by helping to remove blockages of the nerve system. Patient education and home exercise routines are an important part of most care plans. Dr. Colleen also refers and coordinate care with multiple practitioners (massage, medical doctors, etc.) in an effort to accommodate individual needs.
Dr. Colleen is active in numerous chiropractic ventures and her most notable experience was a humanitarian mission trip to Fortelaza, Brazil where she was able to provide chiropractic adjustments to hundreds of people. She is a member of SOTO, a Reiki Master and trained Cranio-sacral therapist through the Upledger Institute.
On a personal note, Dr. Colleen enjoys participating in the American Birkebeiner cross country ski race, rollerblading, hiking, yoga, golfing and all things nature. She was inducted into the Edgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.

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