No difference between bodybuilders using or not using steroids in terms of muscle dysmorphia
Muscle dysmorphia, which is a disorder characterized by an individual’s excessive preoccupation with muscularity and body fat percentage, can have an equal effect in the world of bodybuilding for bodybuilders who use steroids and those who do not, according to a researcher from the University of Arkansas.
Classification of muscular dysmorphia is a hurdle as the same is not considered by the American Psychological Association as a distinct mental illness, according to Daniel Kissinger, a licensed professional counselor.
From Medicalnewstoday.com:
“With respect to muscle dysmorphia, there is no cut off to determine whether or not someone has it,” Baghurst said. “We have a continuum, where some people fall on the high end, some on the low end, but most fall in the middle.”
In his research, Baghurst made a distinction between bodybuilders that was not previously made. He divided bodybuilders into the sub-groups of “natural” and “non-natural.” Natural bodybuilding refers to competitions in which participants are drug-tested and must pass a polygraph regarding their lack of prohibited drug use. Non-natural bodybuilding refers to those competitions in which participants are not required to pass a polygraph, nor are they drug tested prior to competition.
Baghurst found that steroid use is not necessary to be heavily concerned with muscularity and leanness.
“Most people will assume bodybuilders using steroids are those with muscle dysmorphia,” he said. “By separating natural and non-natural bodybuilders, I found that either group is equally likely to have all of the traits of muscle dysmorphia with the exception of pharmacological use.”
According to Timothy Baghurst, a visiting assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of Arkansas, there is no consensus as to how muscle dysmorphia should be measured.
