Vigorexia e níveis de dependência de exercício em frequentadores de academias e fisiculturistas

Abstract

Introduction: Currently, good appearance is a synonym to success, health and determination. So as to, the modern society overwhelms the individuals to follow beauty stereotypes. The heritage of this capitalist and selfish society is the psychological appearance disorders and the psychological dependence associated with them. Among these, we can mention vigorexy and exercise dependence. Objectives: I) to compare vigorexy levels and exercise dependence among gym goers and bodybuilders, II) to correlate the variables on physical practice (time of practice, weekly frequency and sessions time) to the frequency dimensions of vigorexy and exercise dependence; and, III) to compare vigorexy levels according to the exercise dependence groups (dependent or in risk, not symptomatic dependent and not asymptomatic dependent). Methods: The sample was composed of 151 male gym goers (27.66 ± 6.54-year-old and 27.56 ± 5.03 BMI) and 25 bodybuilders (30.80 ± 5.54-year-old and 26.72 ± 4.24 BMI). The participants answered the Exercise Dependence Scale and the Muscle Dysmorphia Disorder Inventory. The statistical analysis involved descriptive, univariated normality, comparative and correlational analyses. results: The main results were: I) absence of differences between gym goers and bodybuilders concerning vigorexy levels and exercise dependence, II) training session time is positively correlated with most of the dimensions of the exercise dependence, and, III) the group classified as dependent or in risk reveals medium superior levels of vigorexy. Conclusion: lastly, it was found that both in bodybuilders and gym goers, the higher the vigorexy level, the higher the exercise dependence with this correlation in bodybuilders.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Characteristics, Psychopathology, Clinical Associations, and Influencing Factors

“…There are some diseases more acknowledged and shared by media, characterized as eating disorder, but, actually, they are all derived from a primary BDD and ultimately evolve with very own traits which make easier to diagnose and to treat them. Anorexia, bulimia, and vigorexia are examples of such case [75][76][77]. In anorexia, BDD gets evident regarding body weight, in which case the patient's self-image is distorted and the person imagines herself/himself with lots more weight than actually has.…”

“…Patient's self-image is small and weak, which makes the person eat and exercise compulsively, trying to get the maximum of possible muscle mass that one can reach, frequently using steroids to get bigger enough. There is a condition called plasticomania too, in which BDD is evident in one or multiple areas of the body, and the patient do not hesitate to undergo several plastic surgeries, trying to solve the frustration [76,78,79].…”

Transtornos Alimentares Em Fisiculturistas Submetidos a Dietas Restritivas

“…Soler et al (2013) estudaram a relação da vigorexia (transtorno psíquico da aparência) e a dependência de exercício físico em frequentadores de academia e fisiculturistas e encontraram que a duração de uma sessão de treino se correlaciona positivamente com a dependência do exercício, e que os grupos considerados dependentes revelam níveis superiores de vigorexia, sendo mais comum em fisiculturistas.…”

Profile of practitioners of supervised physical exercise in the southern region of Brazil

“…Soler,et al (2013) argues that an increase in tolerance intensity, or the exercise session time is related to training frequently. Carvalho (2011) stated in their research that practitioners who attend the gym more than three times a week were happier people.…”