When the Body Becomes a Cage: Vigorexia and the Male Muscular Obsession

Sculpted bodies, perfect abs, bulging biceps, and lives disciplined to the millimeter. It's the new male aesthetic standard that dominates social media, gyms, and the collective imagination. But behind the relentless pursuit of physical fitness lies a still little-recognized disorder: vigorexia , also known as muscle dysmorphia or "Adonis complex." In Italy, over 60,000 cases are estimated, mostly among young men between the ages of 19 and 35, but the real number is likely much higher. Many never receive a diagnosis, because the discomfort is masked by an apparent dedication to training and a healthy lifestyle.

An ideal of strength that conceals fragility

According to the DSM-5, the diagnostic manual for mental disorders, vigorexia, like the more well-known anorexia , is a form of body dysmorphic disorder : those affected see themselves as less muscular or weaker than they actually are, with serious psychological, social, and physical consequences. Precisely because it presents in sculpted and apparently "fit" bodies, vigorexia risks going unnoticed, confused with health, self-control, or willpower.

Sports environments and social media aren't just places for sharing or wellness: they often become stages of confrontation, where the male body is the focus of increasingly unrealistic expectations. However, "violexia doesn't arise from social media or the gym, but from a combination of psychological, biological, and cultural factors," explains Giuseppe Magistrale, psychotherapist and co-founder of Lilac – Centro DCA , an Italian startup that offers an innovative model for the treatment of eating disorders. "Social media amplifies a culture of performance and muscularity, but they're not the only cause. The body often becomes a language: it serves to communicate strength where there has been a sense of impotence," explains Magistrale.

It's also a gender issue

Unlike other eating disorders traditionally associated with women, vigorexia raises urgent questions about men's mental health and the rigidity of gender norms . The obsession with physical fitness is often perceived as normal, virile, even admirable. "It's a doubly invisible form of suffering," Magistrale continues, "stigmatized because it's linked to mental health and, at the same time, confused with willpower." In viral online content, perfectly trained bodies become aspired to, while others, "not muscular enough," are mocked. "Just look at the rhetoric circulating on TikTok or bodybuilding forums," emphasizes Filippo Perotto, also a co-founder of Lilac. "Bodies that were once ideal are now considered insufficient. The bar is constantly being raised, and many young men internalize the belief that they are inadequate," Perotto continues.

From weights to danger

Gyms are increasingly witnessing a shift toward hyper-performance , where extreme workouts, militarized language, and the idealization of physical discipline become the norm. In this context, vigorexia can lead to the excessive use of protein supplements, performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids, or fat-burning drugs taken without medical supervision. The risk is not only physical—with damage to the liver, kidneys, cardiovascular system, and hormonal system—but also psychological: workouts become obsessive, social life shrinks, the relationship with food deteriorates, and any deviation from the "perfect routine" is experienced with guilt and anxiety.

Over time, this mechanism can lead to progressive social isolation , loss of interest, and a deterioration in mood. It is not uncommon for the distress to evolve into depression, anxiety disorders, panic attacks , or the emergence of self-harm. In some cases, suicidal ideation or risky behaviors are underestimated because they are masked by apparent willpower or self-discipline.

The danger of vigorexia also lies in its social ambiguity : it's a disorder that often receives positive reinforcement from the external environment, which rewards determination and physical care without realizing its pathological implications. And precisely for this reason, it too often remains invisible.

A necessary cultural change

Beyond clinical treatment, however, collective reflection is also needed. Vigorexia isn't just an individual or medical issue: it's also the product of a culture that defines masculine value in terms of strength, control, and invulnerability. In this context, building a new culture of the male body means challenging toxic models of virility and promoting a concept of well-being that also includes emotional listening, the right to fragility, and the acceptance of one's own limitations.

As bell hooks wrote, "patriarchal masculinity teaches men that power is more important than love and that vulnerability is synonymous with weakness." But it is precisely this false equation that produces suffering, silence, and loneliness. Acknowledging one's pain, asking for help, and breaking the silence are instead acts of courage , not surrender. We therefore need to redefine what it means to "feel good," break down the stigma, and begin discussing mental health among men , in sports settings, in the media, and in educational settings. Only in this way will it be possible to build a social space capable of embracing a freer, more plural, and more authentic idea of masculinity.