Commentary on Muscle dysmorphia as an addiction: a response to Grant (2015) and Nieuwoudt (2015)

Journal of Behavioral Addictions
Mark D GriffithsGillian W Shorter

Abstract

Following the publication of our paper ‘Muscle Dysmorphia: Could it be classified as an addiction to body image?’ in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions, two commentaries by Jon Grant and Johanna Nieuwoudt were published in response to our paper. Using the ‘addiction components model’, our main contention is that muscle dysmorphia (MD) actually comprises a number of different actions and behaviors and that the actual addictive activity is the maintaining of body image via a number of different activities such as bodybuilding, exercise, eating certain foods, taking specific drugs (e.g., anabolic steroids), shopping for certain foods, food supplements, and purchase or use of physical exercise accessories. This paper briefly responds to these two commentaries. While our hypothesized specifics relating to each addiction component sometimes lack empirical support (as noted explicitly by both Nieuwoudt and Grant), we still believe that our main thesis (that almost all the thoughts and behaviors of those with MD revolve around the maintenance of body image) is something that could be empirically tested in future research by those who already work in the area. We hope that the ‘Addiction to Body Image’ model we proposed provides a new...Continue Reading

References

Jul 27, 2000·The American Journal of Psychiatry·R OlivardiaJ I Hudson
Sep 25, 2010·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·Gillian W SmithMark Shevlin
May 31, 2012·Journal of Psychoactive Drugs·Reef Karim, Priya Chaudhri
Jan 17, 2015·Journal of Behavioral Addictions·Jon E Grant
Jan 17, 2015·Journal of Behavioral Addictions·Johanna E Nieuwoudt
Jan 17, 2015·Journal of Behavioral Addictions·Andrew C FosterMark D Griffiths

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Citations

Jul 6, 2021·Frontiers in Psychology·Leticia OlaveItziar Iruarrizaga

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
cognitive-behavioral therapy
pharmacotherapy

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