Presence of muscle dysmorphia symptomology among male weightlifters.
Limited research exists on muscle dysmorphia (MD) in men and in nonclinical populations. The current study evaluated types of body image disturbance among 237 male weightlifters. Latent class analysis of 8 measures of body image disturbance revealed 5 independent types of respondents: Dysmorphic, Muscle Concerned, Fat Concerned, Normal Behavioral, and Normal. One-way analysis of variance of independent measures of body image disturbance and associated psychopathology confirmed significant differences between groups. The Dysmorphic group reported a pattern of body image disturbance consistent with MD by displaying a high overall level of body image disturbance, symptoms of associated psychopathology, steroid use, and appearance-controlling behavior. Findings generally supported classifying MD as a subtype of body dysmorphic disorder and an obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder. Implications for studying body image disturbance in male weightlifters, and further evaluation of the MD diagnostic criteria are discussed.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. hildebtb@hotmail.com
Tom
T
Hildebrandt
David
D
Schlundt
James
J
Langenbucher
Tammy
T
Chung
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000523:psychology*
D045930:Anabolic Agents