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The drive for muscle leanness: A complex case with features of muscle dysmorphia and eating disorder not otherwise specified

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Abstract

Muscle dysmorphia has been described as a subtype of body dysmorphic disorder in which an individual experiences severe body image disturbance related to muscularity. The current case is of a 20-year-old man who describes a history of muscle dysmorphia in which the nature of the body image concern is related to leanness (i.e., muscularity in the absence of body fat), as opposed to increasing muscle mass, which is how muscle dysmorphia has typically been characterized in the literature. The case illustrates the need to consider this additional facet of body image when diagnosing muscle dysmorphia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Guy Cafri M.A. & J. K. Thompson

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Florida, USA

    N. Blevins

Authors
  1. Guy Cafri M.A.
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  2. N. Blevins
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  3. J. K. Thompson
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Correspondence to Guy Cafri M.A..

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Cafri, G., Blevins, N. & Thompson, J.K. The drive for muscle leanness: A complex case with features of muscle dysmorphia and eating disorder not otherwise specified. Eat Weight Disord 11, e117–e118 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327575

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327575

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