Muscle dysmorphia in Hungarian non-competitive male bodybuilders.

BACKGROUND

Muscle dysmorphia (MD) has been described as a male body image disorder, characterized by a pathological preoccupation with muscle size.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to examine the MD features, eating disorder characteristics and body attitudes in non-competitive male bodybuilders in a Hungarian sample.

METHOD

Sixty male bodybuilders and 60 undergraduate university students completed the self-report questionnaires of the Muscle Appearance Satisfaction Scale, the Body Attitude Test and the Eating Disorders Inventory.

RESULTS

MD was associated with current bodybuilding activity, higher ideal body weight and eating disorder characteristics. Moreover, current selfreported steroid users displayed higher tendency for MD symptoms than self-reported steroid non-users.

DISCUSSION

Results emphasize the relationship between MD symptoms, eating disorder characteristics and steroid use. MD and body image related concerns among men could be a wide-spread phenomena also in the Central-Eastern European region.