In this episode of Non-Toxic, I dive into the world of extreme muscularity with Dr Roberto Olivardia, a researcher and clinician who helped coin the term “muscle dysmorphia.” Dr Olivardia charts the rise of muscle dysmorphia among men and his own journey into studying eating disorders and OCD through the lens of masculinity.
His book, The Adonis Complex, came out in 2000, and we look back at how body image issues among men have evolved from the 1970s to the present day. While social media and steroid use have accelerated the problem, Dr. Olivardia isn’t so sure they’re the only reasons why so many are struggling with this condition. And finally, we look at the challenges faced by those affected, and what options are available for treatment.
This episode is part of the Non-Toxic Performative Male Book Club. It’s a series of all the author interviews I’ve done over the years, featuring some of the smartest writers, journalists, and academics I know. If you’re into Non-Toxic book coverage, click on any epsiode with the tag “Performative Male Book Club” to find more good books for guys who read, or pretend to.
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