What Is Megarexia

Appearing in the 90s of the last century, the term megarexia quickly disappeared from clinical practice.

However, after 30 years, it will probably have to be returned. Because tolerance and body positivity often have to be paid for with health.

The meaning of the phenomenon is very simple and is easily expressed by the following theses:

• I'm not fat, I'm strong.

• I am not fat, but appetizing.

• There should be many good people.

• Eat well - work well.

The term megarexia was coined by the Spanish nutritionist Jaime Brugos in the book "The Isoprotein Diet". As you can easily guess from the name, then the problem mainly concerned the behavior of bodybuilders and bodybuilders. Now it is much wider. According to preliminary estimates, those who suffer from megarexia in the world are 10 times more than those who suffer from anorexia.

What is megarexia

People who suffer from megarexia are usually obese, but at the same time they get taste and aesthetic pleasure from food, are proud of their love for it and brag about both the amount eaten and the size they have achieved. Due to a distorted view of their own body, such people are usually unable to assess the scale of the problem.

Often, such eating behavior is dictated by archetypal images: a man who bites his teeth into meat with appetite looks brutal, a woman who eats eclairs herself seems sweet and desirable. However, such beliefs have nothing to do with healthy food and at least some kind of diet . Megarectics prefer unhealthy food - usually meat and fast carbohydrates, which, surprisingly, quickly leads to symptoms of malnutrition due to a lack of necessary nutrients (vitamins, minerals and amino acids). They often develop anemia, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disorders. That is, the same problems as people suffering from anorexia.

The most dangerous thing is that the body positivists , pickwicks and megarectics themselves believe that excess weight is almost synonymous with health and vitality. It is assumed that they do not know about their illness . However, many of them still do not like to be photographed and go shopping for clothes - that is, they consciously or subconsciously avoid situations that would force them to admit reality.

Megarexia and anorexia

Megarexia is the opposite of anorexia. That is, the stages and symptoms coincide, but with the opposite sign. Both diseases are based on dysmorphophobia - rejection of one's own body. And the fear of being overweight.

It's just that the opposite methods of combating this fear are chosen: some run and resist, while others pretend not to be afraid. Those who suffer from anorexia refuse to eat and consider every lost kilogram as their victory, and those who suffer from megarexia loudly admit their reluctance to fight with appetite and excess weight and begin to cultivate these qualities. At the same time, everyone denies the problem as such.

Clinical and psychological symptoms (with the exception of the main one - body weight deficiency or its excess) coincide.

• Unreasonable anger, increased offensiveness.

• Excessive enthusiasm for topics related to food: collecting recipes, cookbooks, cooking, preparing luxurious meals for family and friends (anorexics do not eat at all, and megarectics set the tone for the feast).

• Mood swings from sadness to euphoria.

• Decreased activity.

• Weakness, fatigue.

• Irregular heart rhythm, shortness of breath.

• Muscle spasms or convulsions.

• Disorders of the menstrual cycle in women.

The treatment of both of them should begin with the recognition of the very fact of the disease .