How gym culture is affecting body dysmorphia

By Alex Burns

Scrolling through TikTok between sets, Jack watches guys his age lifting heavier, eating cleaner, and making faster progress.

He doesn’t think much of it until he catches himself comparing.

Going to the gym and lifting weights is generally a place for men to relieve stress, get a confidence boost and feel good about taking care of their bodies.

But when every workout is measured against someone else or against an impossible ideal, that motivation to improve can turn into pressure to always feel like you need to do more.

And sometimes that need to do more becomes obsessive, leading to eating disorders and body dysmorphia.

In fact, a 2023 National Institutes of Health study found nearly 30 percent of college aged men report symptoms of body dissatisfaction, showing how pressure to look better affects more than confidence.

“We are seeing a significant rise in body dissatisfaction among young men, something that used to be far more common in women,” said Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician and researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, in an interview with The Washington Post.

What is muscle dysmorphia?

Muscle dysmorphia, often called bigorexia, is a rising issue in fitness culture, particularly among teens and college aged men.

It is a form of body dysmorphia where individuals see themselves as too small or weak despite being objectively muscular or fit.

This distorted self image leads to obsessive training, rigid dieting, and in many cases, anxiety, depression or social withdrawal.

The disorder is formally recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5), which classifies muscle dysmorphia under Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

That classification marked a shift in how mental health professionals understand excessive gym behaviors, not as simple dedication but as a potentially dangerous obsession.

Social media has taken this to a new level.

Platforms like TikTok and Instagram provide endless fitness inspiration content that promotes idealized physiques.

The Guardian reported that TikTok fitness content is fueling insecurities among teenage boys, locking them into cycles of comparison.

CNN Health highlighted how college aged men face hidden pressure to bulk up, often feeling they can never measure up to the bodies they see online.

The consequences of these pressures reach far beyond the gym.

A report from BBC News revealed that young men often describe their obsession with getting bigger as an addiction, admitting that it interferes with school, work, and relationships.

The New York Times profiled men who appeared muscular to others but still felt small, punishing themselves with guilt after breaking strict diets or skipping workouts.

Supplements and steroids also play a role.

What begins as protein powder or pre workout often escalates into stronger substances.

The CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System shows that high school boys report steroid use tied to appearance concerns.

A study from the Journal of Adolescent Health found that muscle enhancing behaviors that include supplements, overtraining, and steroid experimentation are directly linked to body dissatisfaction in young men.

This issue is not limited to everyday gym goers.

ESPN reported that college athletes sometimes push themselves past safe limits because of pressure to meet both performance and appearance expectations.

Social media pressure

For many young men, the gym is not just about lifting weights.

It is a place to find purpose and confidence.

“The discipline to stay consistent, even on bad days, turned old insecurities into motivation,” said Sevi, a lifter in Pennsylvania.

But for some, the gym can turn into an endless loophole of mind games.

“Fitness goals can quickly shift, a friend from London who began lifting during college. “You start off wanting to be strong,”. “But then, strong is not enough,” said Anthony.

“It becomes a moving target,”, who trains regularly at Gold’s Gym. “You hit one goal, and suddenly it is not enough anymore,” said Luca.

“Social media has made the muscular ideal even more extreme and harder to achieve,” said Dr. Stuart Murray, director of the Eating Disorders Program at the University of Southern California.

According to the American Psychological Association, body satisfaction among young men has declined steadily since 2015 as online fitness content has surged.

Each achievement leads to another chase for improvement.

That can be good unless taken too far.

The National Eating Disorders Association reports that one in four young men feels pressure to change their bodies because of social media comparisons.

As social media grows, so does the amount of exaggerated or misleading information people see.

Exposure to this kind of idealized content increases anxiety, says Viren Swami, a social psychology professor at Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom.

“Especially in men who already feel pressure to look a certain way,” Swami added in Men’s Health.

Sevi understands that pressure well.

“TikTok and Instagram have turned fitness into a public competition,” he said. “Clips of perfect builds, supplement ads, and what I eat in a day videos fill the feed.”

“It is hard not to compare.”

Sevi says he will watch a guy post his workout and think, “Why don’t I look like that? “Even if I am doing everything right, it feels like I am doing something wrong,” Sevi added.

Anthony says that kind of pressure can push lifters toward extremes that may not be healthy. “I have seen friends start steroids because they are tired of waiting for results". “They think they will never catch up.”

Dr. Will Ross, a psychology professor at the College of Charleston, noted that social media algorithms make it worse. “They feed you more of what you click on,” said Ross. “That cycle fuels comparison and insecurity.”

Comparison culture

It is not just social media that creates pressure.

Seeing anyone with a good build can spark feelings of not being good enough.

“Comparison follows lifters everywhere,” said Jack. “Phones make it easy to measure progress against someone else. If someone is benching more, I feel like I need to catch up. It is not about health anymore.”

Sevi pointed out that posting and comparing is now just part of the gym. “You cannot even scroll without comparing,” he added. “Everyone has perfect lighting and edited clips.”

Mental health researchers point out that this constant comparison creates unrealistic expectations that can lead to eating disorders, muscle dysmorphia, depression, and anxiety.

“It builds unhealthy habits,” said Ross. “Social media gives a false impression that most people look this way. Those standards create constant dissatisfaction.”

Behind the confidence and discipline, many lifters quietly battle guilt and anxiety.

“The mental toll runs deep,” said Jack. “Missing one workout or meal plan can cause guilt.” “I will feel lazy or like I lost progress.”

“That guilt turns passion into pressure said Sevi.”

Dr. Jennifer Carter, a sports psychologist at Ohio State University, said in Runner’s World that this comparison culture often leads to guilt or shame for missing a workout or slipping from a strict diet.

“It is not discipline anymore, it is distress,” Carter said.

Anthony noted that the disorder can affect friendships.

A 2022 survey from Men’s Health found that nearly 40 percent of men skip social plans to stay on track with training or diet goals.

“You skip hanging out because it messes with your schedule,” Anthony said. “It becomes your whole personality.”

Many lifters sacrifice social plans to stay aligned with their workout goals.

But they often end up limiting friendships and personal connections with others.

“For many, the gym becomes all-consuming,” said Luca.

“Lifters give up social events and flexibility.”

“You will skip dinner or a night out because you do not want to ruin your progress Anthony noted.”

Sevi says it is hard for him to know when enough is enough. “It is as if I miss one day, I feel like I am falling behind,” he said.

Jack agrees that it becomes a cycle that is hard to break. “You tell yourself it is discipline, but sometimes it is obsession,” Jack said.

Mental and physical balance is important

Ross says it is important for everyone, including college students and particularly young men, to find a balance between working out and living their lives. “That loss of balance can hurt mental health,” said Ross.

“Exercise should relieve stress, not create it.”

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America links perfectionism in fitness culture to higher rates of anxiety and depression among college students.

It is very common for students who struggle with body image to become obsessed with improving their physical health.

“Those feelings are common among students who struggle with body image,” said Ross. “They often suffer from low self esteem or anxiety.”

“Even small setbacks can feel devastating. said Ross”

The goal is to use lifting and other forms of exercise as a relief from daily stress.

For Anthony, Jack, and Sevi, the original motivation for lifting was positive.

“It gave me structure and confidence,” said Sevi.

Jack started lifting for mental clarity. “It clears my head more than anything.”

Anthony admits his motivation has changed over time, from something harmless to something more concerning.

“I used to lift for how it made me feel,” he said.

“Now I care more about how I look.”

Luca says social media makes finding that balance harder. “It is tough to lift just for mental health anymore,” said Luca.

But that is still the ultimate goal -- to lift for the right reasons.

“At first, it was about having abs or looking good at the beach,” Jack said. “Now it is more about feeling healthy and confident.”