Can our understanding of addiction help us explain Muscle Dysmorphia as addiction to body image?

What is it about?

Following our suggestion that muscle dysmorphia might be explained by an addiction to body image, two researchers answered our call for debate. Using the addiction components model (Griffiths, 2005) which explains addictions as salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse, our commentators noted research support for some elements, but a lack of research in other areas. In this article we respond to our critics and invite the muscle dysmorphia research community to either support or contradict our theories with well-conducted studies.

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Why is it important?

By offering an alternative explanation for behaviors around muscle dysmorphia, we hope that a) researchers will take up the opportunity for exploratory research in this area and b) a better understanding of the condition will ultimately help those who experience the condition. We invite further discussion and debate.