Muscle Dysmorphia and the Use of Nutritional Ergogenic Supplements Among Amateur Male Bodybuilders: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Esra Tansu Sarıyer, Elvan Yılmaz Akyüz, Sahin YesildagABSTRACT
Background
This study aimed to evaluate the levels of muscle appearance satisfaction and ergogenic aid use among adult male amateur bodybuilders.
Methods
In this descriptive cross‐sectional study, a questionnaire containing demographic information, the “Nutrition Ergogenic Supplement Attitude Measurement (NESAM)” for ergogenic aid use, and the “Muscle Appearance Satisfaction Scale (MASS)”, and anthropometric measurements were taken using a BIA analysis device (Tanita DC360). Data were analyzed using the SPSS v27 software package (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).
Results
The participants' mean BMI was 25.37 ± 2.53 kg/m 2 , while the mean body fat percentage was 14.60 ± 5.61%. While 54.8% of participants used ergogenic supplements, the majority (72.9%) did so on their own initiative. According to NESAM results, the highest average score was observed in the “Benefit” subscale, the total MASS score showed positive correlations with benefit (r = 0.207, p < 0.05), natural nutrition (r = 0.231, p < 0.05), and total NESAM scores (r = 0.196, p < 0.05). In multiple linear regression analysis, the NESAM total score remained an independent predictor of the MASS total score (β = 0.312, p = 0.002). Additionally, while BMI was negatively associated with muscle dissatisfaction (r = −0.213, p < 0.05), upper arm circumference was positively correlated with bodybuilding dependence (r = 0.323, p < 0.01).
Conclusion
Among male bodybuilders, attitudes toward ergogenic supplements were independently associated with muscle appearance satisfaction.