Vigoxia (or Adonis complex) affects over 60,000 people in Italy and is linked to structural changes in the areas of the brain dedicated to emotions and body image.
Vigoroxy, also called the “Adonis complex”, is a disorder that affects the perception of one’s body. Those who suffer from it, despite often having developed muscles, continue to perceive themselves as frail or insufficient from a physical point of view.
The numbers of the phenomenon in Italy
According to the Institute of Clinical Physiology, in Italy the phenomenon affects more than 60,000 people, mainly men between 19 and 35 years old, with percentages exceeding 10% among those who practice bodybuilding.
It is likely, however, that the numbers are underestimated, because the disorder often goes unrecognized or diagnosed.
What happens in the brain
Neuroimaging research suggests that vigoroxia may be associated with structural changes in the brain of those who suffer from it, particularly in areas involved in the representation of body image, behavioral control and management of emotions.
