Body Image Perceptions Among Female Weight Lifters

Abstract

Muscle Dysmorphia (MD) has been recognized as a disorder associated with body dissatisfaction and is especially prevalent among the exercising/athletic population, however, little is known about MD among female weight lifters. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to measure body image perceptions particularly comparing the levels of MD among competitive and non-competitive female weight lifters. METHODS: The Muscle Dysmorphia Inventory (MDI) was used to assess body image perceptions and the characteristics of muscle dysmorphia among the groups. This 27-item self-report survey has been validated in previous research and was designed for the assessment of behavioral and psychological characteristics associated with MD. The MDI contains 6 subscales and each subscale uses a 6-point Likert scale ranging from "never" (=1) to "always" (=6). Higher subscale scores represent a greater association with MD characteristics. Participants included 15 competitive and 15 non-competitive female weight lifters (mean age = 22). Data collection was done using a combination of paper and web-based surveys. MANOVA was used to measure differences between groups in all subscales. RESULTS: Results indicated significant differences between competitive and noncompetitive weightlifters on the diet and exercise subscales (p<.01)*.TABLECONCLUSIONS: Results of this study indicate that competitive female weight lifters exhibit greater behavioral characteristics associated with MD than do their non-competitive counterparts and suggest they may be at risk for this disorder. Awareness of the behavioral signs associated with MD by coaches, trainers, and health professionals is important for communication and intervention purposes.