Correlates of muscle dysmorphia symptomatology in natural bodybuilders: Distinguishing factors in the pursuit of hyper-muscularity

Lachlan Mitchell; Stuart B Murray; Matthew Hoon; Daniel Hackett; Tania Prvan; Helen O'Connor

doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.04.003

Correlates of muscle dysmorphia symptomatology in natural bodybuilders: Distinguishing factors in the pursuit of hyper-muscularity

Body Image. 2017 Sep:22:1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.04.003. Epub 2017 May 20.

Authors

Lachlan Mitchell¹, Stuart B Murray², Matthew Hoon³, Daniel Hackett⁴, Tania Prvan⁵, Helen O'Connor⁶

Affiliations

¹ Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: lachlan.mitchell@sydney.edu.au.
² Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. Electronic address: drstuartmurray@gmail.com.
³ School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University, Canberra, ACT, Australia. Electronic address: matthew.hoon@acu.edu.au.
⁴ Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: danielhackett@sydney.edu.au.
⁵ Department of Statistics, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: tania.prvan@mq.edu.au.
⁶ Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: helen.oconnor@sydney.edu.au.

PMID: 28535445
DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.04.003

Abstract

Muscle dysmorphia (MD) is characterized by the pathological pursuit of muscularity and leanness, which includes eating- and exercise-related practices. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify correlations of MD symptomatology in natural bodybuilders. An online survey assessing diet, supplementation and training practices, and MD and eating disorder symptoms was completed by male bodybuilders with recent experience competing in a drug-tested competition. Sixty participants (age 29.6±7.1 years) completed the survey. Eating disorder scores (β=.298), rate of pre-competition weight loss (β=.307) and number of competitions (β=-.257) were significant predictors of MD. The association between the EAT-26 and MDDI underscores the salience of disordered eating pathology in presentations of MD. Supporting this, greater rate of pre-competition weight loss, which may reflect disordered eating practices, is also associated with MD symptomatology. The inverse association of competition experience suggests novice bodybuilders may display increased MD symptomatology.

Keywords: Bodybuilding; Eating disorder; Weight loss.

MeSH terms

Adult
Body Dysmorphic Disorders / complications*
Body Dysmorphic Disorders / psychology*
Body Image / psychology*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise
Feeding and Eating Disorders / complications*
Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology*
Health Surveys / statistics & numerical data
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Muscle, Skeletal
Thinness / psychology*
Young Adult