Investigation of the urge to muscular male athletes who engage in bodybuilding sports and the use of ergogenic support products

The aim of this study is to examine the desire to be muscular and the use of ergogenic support products in male bodybuilding athletes. The study was carried out with the participation of 500 male bodybuilding athletes aged 18 and over who are members of gyms serving in the field of fitness in various provinces of Turkey. Data within the scope of the study; It was obtained using the demographic information form, Muscular Urges Scale (MUS) and nutritional ergogenic support attitude scale in sports (NESASS). For statistical analysis: Kruskal Wallis-H test, Pearson chi-square test, Pearson Correlation Coefficient were calculated and the significance level was accepted as p<0.05. The mean scores obtained from the total and sub-dimensions of MUS of the athletes participating in the study were 47.7±14.3, 23.9±8.1, 13.2±4.4 and 10.6±4.6, respectively. The mean scores of the athletes in the sub-dimensions of benefit, side effects, and ethics and natural nutrition in NESASS were 3.5±0.8, 2.3±0.8 and 2.7±0.7, respectively. The mean scores of the athletes in the sub-dimensions of benefit, side effects, and ethics and natural nutrition in NESASS were 3.5±0.8, 2.3±0.8 and 2.7±0.7, respectively. The muscular attitude (MA) (0.88), muscular training behavior (MTB) (0.80), and the use of eating and supplements to be muscular were at a high level with (UESM) (0.76), and with the NESASS benefit sub-dimension (0.35), it has a moderate, negative and weak correlation with side effects and ethics sub-dimension (0.26) and natural nutrition sub-dimension (0.13). Athletes' education level and MA and benefit; it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of the total and benefit sub-dimensions of MA, MTB, MUS according to their occupational status. In conclusion; Although the motivation of the athletes to be muscular is at a moderate level, the orientation towards nutritional support products increases as the level of education increases. According to the data, it is understood that the athletes are in favor of freedom in the use of support products. Keywords: Bodybuilding, Ergogenic supplements, The urge to be muscular.