'Bigorexia' Is On The Rise In Kids And Teens. Here's What Parents Should Know.

Clinicians interviewed by HuffPost describe a rise in muscle dysmorphia, or 'bigorexia,' a body dysmorphic disorder in which sufferers, usually boys and young men, believe they are not muscular enough regardless of their actual build. A 2019 study found 22% of adolescent boys engaged in disordered eating aimed at bulking up, and researchers point to under-recognition, shame and the normalization of extreme gym behavior as reasons it gets missed.

Experts cited in the piece identify social media, and specifically the display of men's bodies by influencer accounts, as a major driver, alongside risk factors like competitive weightlifting, trauma and family history of anxiety or body-image disorders.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.