Seeing Shred: Differences in muscle dysmorphia, orthorexia nervosa, depression, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies among groups of weightlifting athletes

Abstract

This research explored whether levels of muscle dysmorphia (MD), orthorexia nervosa (ON), depression, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies differed among bodybuilders, powerlifters, and a control group of neither bodybuilders nor powerlifters. Each athlete group was further divided into a steroid-using subgroup and a non-steroid-using subgroup. An anonymous online survey was completed by participants recruited through the Internet forum website, Reddit: 555 bodybuilders, 889 powerlifters, and 157 participants in the control group. Regardless of athlete group, levels of MD, ON, depression, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies were greater among steroid users than non-users. Differences among athlete groups were found only for those who did not report using steroids. Among these non-users, both the bodybuilders and powerlifters reported greater levels of MD, ON, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies than the control group; the only significant difference between bodybuilders and powerlifters was for MD. These results can be interpreted within the context of the lifestyle associated with these sports. Many bodybuilders and powerlifters develop very strict (obsessive-compulsive) dietary and training regimes for the purpose of gaining and maintaining the perfect degree of muscle mass and physique, often with the assistance of steroids.