He loves a mirror selfie, is never short of female attention and always seems keen for a topless workout. But reality star Miles Nazaire is showing a completely different side of himself in a new show where he investigates a health condition called muscle dysmorphia.
Dubbed bigorexia, muscle dysmorphia is a body dysmorphic disorder that mostly affects men who feel the pressure to appear more muscular.
Miles, 27, is known for causing trouble on Made in Chelsea and has recently announced he’ll be taking part in this year’s Dancing On Ice. However, it was at the beginning of Miles’ television career that his “obsession” with his muscles began.
“I’ve been training for around five years now and it all started when I was in my early twenties. I got to a point in my life where I was going out too much and the party lifestyle had taken over,” he explains. “To begin with, discovering the gym had nothing to do with my appearance and it was purely to get out of that unhealthy party lifestyle and to find a healthier routine.
“I instantly fell in love with weightlifting and by the end of week one, I was obsessed. The endorphins were flying and it made me feel so much better than partying ever could.”
Soon enough, Miles’ habits began to change, the gym became his priority – he also found a nutritionist to help him diet in order to gain muscle.
“It was always on my mind – what I could do next and how I could do an extra hour of training here or there. I no longer had the time or the desire to go and socialise with friends who didn’t fit in with this new strict lifestyle that I was in the thick of.
“I have a vivid memory of being in my kitchen when I was living with Habs (Made in Chelsea’s Sophie Habboo) and Emily (Blackwell) and I was eating a protein yoghurt,” continues Miles. “Whilst I was eating, I was flexing my muscles and looking in this mirror. I remember checking myself and looking at the girls who were in disbelief at what I was doing – eating and flexing. But I just remember feeling inadequate and thinking ‘I’m so small right now, I’m not big enough, I need to get bigger.’
“Commonly the idea that they are obsessing over their body constantly, is seen by others as a sign of vanity, rather than a mental health condition.”
In the documentary, Miles talks to experts about muscle dysmorphia and, to his surprise, is then diagnosed with the condition himself.
“When I was talking to the therapist and MD expert in the documentary, you can tell by my face that I’m very shocked at everything that he’s saying,” reveals Miles. “But I felt a huge sense of relief as I could finally put a name to the thoughts and feelings that I had been experiencing over the years.
“I look back and wish I had been able to understand what the condition was when I was at my lowest point three years ago. It would have made me feel less alone, and could have helped break me out of the cycle sooner.”
Miles became headline news last year after having undergone plastic surgery – now he knows it’s due to muscle dysmorphia.
“Basically, I had a form of tissue, just where my nipples were, and it was bothering me for so many years,” confesses Miles. “I got it removed. I wasn’t happy with the results of my first surgery, so I went back in for a second and after that I still wasn’t happy. It was at this point that I realised perfection doesn’t exist.
“I have to now live with the scars that I’m still unhappy with but I’m almost glad I went through it because it allowed me to get to a place where I am now – at peace with myself.”
During the show, Miles finds he isn’t the only celebrity affected by worrying about physical appearance. He meets with ex-Love Islander Michael Griffiths to talk about the prevalence of steroid use in the fitness industry.
“Personally, I think steroids are unfortunately way too accessible,” says Miles. “And what’s scary with steroids is when you see on social media that people are being so open about what they take, I always think about an impressionable 16-year-old who’ll then be influenced and think, ‘Oh I’ll take some steroids too.’
"That’s so dangerous, these drugs are severe and you don’t know the side effects, you don’t know what could happen. The online space is so unregulated, and I think people need to be way more careful about who they are taking advice from. I did my own research, and I am so pleased that I never went down that path.”
After being diagnosed and seeking help, Miles hopes that documenting his journey will help others find support.
“At the lowest point where you feel so alone, I want people to know that there is help out there,” he says. “The whole point of this is to share light on this topic and know that the feelings you have are valid.
“Suffering with muscle dysmorphia can take all the joy out of life but I hope that knowing you can find support groups and professional guidance on how to manage your feelings should hopefully be a massive relief.”
Obsessed with My Muscles: UNTOLD is available to stream on Channel 4
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