Muscle Dysmorphic Disorders, Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Disorder in Male Bodybuilders

Abstract

Muscle dysmorphic disorders (MDD) have been described as a body image disorder, characterized by a perceived lack of muscularity, and largely affect males. PURPOSE: The study aimed to determine the rates and relationships among MDD, body image disturbance and eating disorders in both competitive/professional and non-competitive/ recreational male bodybuilders. METHODS: The participants consist of 120 bodybuilders (competitive, n=62 (mean age 31.05 ± 10.60 yr) and non-competitive, n=58 (mean age 25.63 ± 6.67 yr) recruited from four bodybuilding gym centers in Ankara, Turkey. Weight, height and body fat percentage were measured with BIA (Tanita, TBF- 300). To assess symptoms of eating disorders, muscle dysmorphia, and body dissatisfaction, the participants were asked to answer four questionnaires, including Eating Attitude Test (EAT)-40, Muscle Dysmorphia Disorder Inventory (MDDI), and Bodybuilder Image Grid (BIG)-Original (BIG-O) and Scale (BIG-S), the instruments to measure the perceptual body images disturbance and perceived attractiveness. A multiple linear regression model was used to identify independent factors associating eating disorders. RESULTS: 81 bodybuilders (67.5%) had EAT-40 scores above its cut off point, indicating having eating disorders, and there was no significant difference between competitive and non-competitive bodybuilders (p>0.05). The average scores of BIG-O and BIG-S showed statistically significant differences (p<0.01) in current and ideal body fat and muscle mass scores, indicating the most bodybuilders desire to be leaner (less fat) and muscular than their current body sizes. According to MDDI, 70 bodybuilders (58.3%) had a risk of having MDD. Furthermore, there was a significant positive relationship between EAT-40 and MDDI total scores (r= 0.614, Φ= 0.713, p<0.001) in both competitive and non-competitive bodybuilders. A linear regression analysis predicts that the eating disorder was a relative risk factor for MDDI and muscle-related body dissatisfaction in male bodybuilders. CONCLUSIONS: Eating disorder psychopathology is positively related with body dissatisfaction and body dysmorphic disorders. The screening tools, EAT-40, MDDI, and BIG-O and BIG-S may provide early detections of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders in male bodybuilders.