The relationship with muscle dysmorphia, body image, exercise addiction, eating attitudes and behaviors and body composition in male power and strength athletes

Muscle dysmorphia is a psychological problem and its incidence is known to increase with the effect of many factors. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of muscle dysmorphia in adult male power and strength athletes, in athletes with and without muscle dysmorphia; the study was conducted to evaluate nutritional status, exercise addiction, body image, eating attitudes and behaviors, and body composition. The research was conducted with 69 male power and strength athletes ages between 18-30. Demographic characteristics questionnaire for athletes, food consumption frequency, Muscle Dysmorphia Disorder Inventory (MDD-I), Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) and Eating Disorder Assessment Scale, Exercise Addiction Scale and Body Image Coping Strategies Scale were applied and anthropometric measurements were taken with air displacement plethysmography (BOD POD). It has been determined that the risk of eating disorders is high in 2.9% of the athletes. The mean score of the athletes in exercise addictions was determined as 59.8±12.27. According to the exercise addictions of the athletes, 52.3% were determined in the dependent group and 24.6% in the highly dependent group. It has been reported that 10.1% of the athletes have bigorexia. It was determined that as the scores of the athletes from the MDD-I scale increased, the exercise addictions (r=0.368, p<0.05) and Body Image Coping Strategies Scale (r=0.471, p<0.05) scores increased. As the probability of having bigorexia increases, individuals' exercise addiction and body image coping strategy scores increase. It was determined that there is a positive correlation between MDD-I score and protein consumption. It was determined that as protein consumption increased, the score of having bigorexia increased (p<0.05). It has been concluded that individuals with bigorexia should receive advice from psychologists, dietitians and exercise specialists in their nutrition and exercise practices.