Male body image in focus: muscularity-oriented eating behaviours, muscle dysmorphia, and exercise addiction in gay and heterosexual men

Summary & key facts

This study surveyed 168 physically active men (104 heterosexual, 64 gay) using validated self-report questionnaires. Gay men reported higher levels of muscle-focused eating behaviours, muscle dysmorphia symptoms, and signs of exercise addiction than heterosexual men. Muscularity-oriented eating and muscle dysmorphia were both linked to exercise addiction and together explained about 42% of the differences in exercise addiction scores. The connections between body-image concerns and compulsive exercise were stronger for gay men. The study used cross-sectional data, so it cannot show cause and calls for more research on underlying social and psychological reasons.

Key facts:

• The study sample included 168 physically active men: 104 heterosexual and 64 gay.
• Gay men scored higher on muscularity-oriented eating behaviours (p = .006, effect size d = 0.44).
• Gay men scored higher on muscle dysmorphia (p < .001, effect size d = 0.66).
• Gay men scored higher on exercise addiction (p = .002, effect size d = 0.50).
• Muscularity-oriented eating behaviours and muscle dysmorphia together accounted for 42% of the variance in exercise addiction in regression analyses.
• Sexual orientation significantly moderated the links: the associations between muscularity-oriented eating or muscle dysmorphia and exercise addiction were stronger in gay men than in heterosexual men.
• Data were collected using validated self-report questionnaires and the analyses included t-tests, multiple regression, and moderation tests.
• The study was cross-sectional and did not test causal relationships or measure social mechanisms like minority stress, so it cannot determine why these differences exist.

Topics

Eating Disorders and Behaviors Fashion and Cultural Textiles Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Addiction Clinical psychology Developmental psychology Medicine Physical medicine and rehabilitation Psychiatry Psychology