Identifying components of drive for muscularity and leanness associated with core body image disturbance: A network analysis.

Abstract

Alongside thin ideals, internalizing muscular and/or lean body ideals is associated with eating disorder (ED) symptomatology, especially among males. However, assessment of drive for muscularity (DM) and drive for leanness (DL) also captures attitudes and behaviors that are normative in the general population. The aim of this study was to identify components of DM and DL that are independently linked to core body image disturbance in EDs-shape/weight dissatisfaction, overvaluation ,and fear of weight gain-in community adolescents using network analysis. A representative sample of 4,975 Australian adolescents (53% females, M age = 14.92) from Wave 1 of the EveryBODY study was included in the analyses. We estimated regularized and unregularized networks, identified communities of items, estimated bridge centrality between communities, and explored sex differences in network structure and connectivity with a Network Comparison Test. Results showed that items "feeling better about oneself if having a lean body" and "wishing to be muscular" had the highest bridge centralities, and network structures of male and females did not significantly differ. Importantly, some components of DM were negatively associated with body image disturbance. These findings suggest that, when investigating the role of DL and DM in EDs, it would be useful to further assess these constructs as multifaceted since relationships between these phenomena are likely more nuanced than previously speculated. Development and subsequent use of instruments for certain behaviors and/or attitudes more specifically associated with body image disturbance might be more informative than somewhat artificially confined focus on either thinness, leanness, or muscularity. Public Significance StatementDesire to obtain muscular and desire to obtain lean body are considered risk factors for body image disturbance and, in turn, eating disorder development, but typically used scales also capture aspects common in healthy individuals. By using network analysis in community adolescents, we observed both positive and negative associations between drive for muscularity, leanness, and body image disturbance, which suggests that these concepts might need to be assessed as multifaceted rather than uniform.

Gender Differences in Treatment Outcomes for Eating Disorders: A Case-Matched, Retrospective Pre–Post Comparison

“…Moreover, as mentioned above, diagnostic criteria and ED-specific assessment tools were developed primarily based on EDs in women’s samples, questioning whether their use may have promoted phenotypical homogeneity among the men and women with EDs that were included in our sample. For example, we observed similar levels in weight and shape concerns between gender groups at admission, while previous research shows that men with EDs are often less concerned with thinness [ 22 , 23 , 24 ] and may seek to increase body mass and muscularity instead [ 25 , 26 ]. “Gold standard” measurement tools of ED psychopathology such as the EDE-Q used within this study [ 77 ] do not currently distinguish between drives for muscularity and thinness as non-exclusive causes of shape and weight concerns, leaving the possibility that gender differences in ED psychopathology could have been present without being detected.…”

“…The changing demographics of the ED population thus sparked a considerable effort to further the understanding of gender differences in ED presentation and etiology [ 20 , 21 ]. Studies reveal that men with EDs, compared to women, are often less concerned with thinness [ 22 , 23 , 24 ], seek to increase body mass and muscularity instead [ 25 , 26 ], and may also present with different patterns in emotion regulation [ 27 ]. Given that established assessment tools rarely address men-associated ED symptoms, recent developments include men-oriented norms and extensions for established ED questionnaires [ 28 , 29 , 30 ] as well as men-specific assessment instruments [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ].…”

The associations between autistic traits and disordered eating/drive for muscularity are independent of anxiety and depression in females but not males

“…Considering the distinct characteristics of ideal muscularity among women [ 38 , 39 ], as well as its increasing centrality to female appearance ideals [ 40 – 42 ], investigating the specific cognitive factors associated with muscularity concerns in women and highlighting any differences with men is an important research direction. A small but growing evidence-base focusing on drive for muscularity in women indicates its clear association with body-focused [ 66 , 67 ] and more general [ 68 ] maladaptive psychological symptoms, so the findings of this study helpfully contribute to this emerging picture. Of particular interest is our finding that autistic traits in females are more strongly associated with both female typical (disordered eating) and male typical (drive for muscularity) outcomes.…”

The Relationship of Body Perception, Eating Disorder Risk and Physical Activity Level with Drive for Muscularity, Muscle-Focused Eating Behavior and Exercise Dependence Among University Students Who Have Regular Exercise: Descriptive Research

“…Benzer şekilde literatürde, kaslı olma dürtüsü ile BKİ arasında anlamlı ilişki belirleyemeyen çalışmalar mevcut olsa da; Arellano-Pérez ve ark.nın çalışmasında, BKİ'ye göre normal vücut ağırlığında olan katılımcıların en yüksek kaslı olma dürtüsü riskine sahip olduğu bildirilmiştir. [18][19][20] artırma endişesi, fazla kilolu olan bireylerin ise obez bireylere kıyasla ağırlık kaybı temelinde kaslı olma dürtüsü riskini daha fazla taşıyor olmaları ile açıklanabilir. 21,22 Brunet ve ark.nın araştırmasında, kaslı olma dürtüsünün ağırlık kaybı veya kazanımı doğrultusunda yeme bozukluğunu teşvik ettiği bildirilmektedir.…”