Final answer:
People with muscle dysmorphia typically exercise excessively and may also exhibit disordered eating behaviors. They are preoccupied with not being muscular enough and may avoid showing their bodies. Their behaviors can be similar to those with other eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder.
Step-by-step explanation:
People with muscle dysmorphia often engage in behaviors similar to those observed in individuals with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. However, unlike those primarily concerned with thinness, individuals with muscle dysmorphia are preoccupied with not being sufficiently muscular or lean. They tend to exhibit patterns of behavior that include excessive exercise and may also involve disordered eating behaviors to achieve their desired physique.
In response to the provided options, people with muscle dysmorphia typically:
- a. Exercise excessively but may also engage in disordered eating behaviors, not just one or the other.
- b. May consume various types of diets, not necessarily high-carbohydrate.
- c. Often avoid exposing their body due to fear of it not being muscular enough.
- d. Sometimes report 'feeling fat,' as they have a distorted body image similar to those with other body dysmorphic disorders.
Moreover, certain professions and activities, such as dancing or elite sports, may put individuals under pressure to maintain very specific body standards, which can result in various forms of eating disorders. Body dysmorphic disorder frequently co-occurs with an eating disorder, leading to a cycle of behaviors that can severely impact an individual's mental and physical health.