The Effect of Bigorexia Nervosa on Eating Attitudes and Physical Activity: A Study on University Students

Abstract

Purpose. This study aims to examine the relationship between physical activity, eating attitude, and bigorexia nervosa among university students. Method. A questionnaire form consisting of sociodemographic characteristics, eating habits, the Eating Attitude Scale (EAT-40), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the Muscle Appearance Satisfaction Scale (MASS) was conducted on undergraduate students at Üsküdar University. Results. There were 1006 students who participated in this study with a mean age of 22.58 ± 2.87 years. The median “muscle appearance satisfaction” score of the obese students was statistically higher than the normal weight and underweight students. The median score for “Obesity Anxiety” was statistically higher in underweight students than in obese ones. A one-unit increase in IPAQ scores was related to an elevation of 24.9% in the MASS and a decrease of 17.9% in the EAT-40 scores, while a one-unit increase in MASS scores was related to a reduction of 12.5% in the EAT-40 scores. Conclusion. Eating attitude is associated with bigorexia nervosa, and as MASS scores increase, EAT-40 scores decrease and as IPAQ scores increase, and EAT-40 scores decrease. In other words, as physical activity increases, muscle strength satisfaction elevates, and in parallel with this increase, a positive eating attitude improves.

Body image and willingness to change it—A study of university students in Poland

“…Weight loss practices were undertaken by university students, as per several other studies [ 81 , 82 ]. Dissatisfaction with body image is widely regarded as an important public health concern [ 3 , 51 ]. About half of the students reported trying to control their body weight in order to have a real impact on improving their appearance and indirectly influence the feeling of emotion.…”

“…The WHO defines health as “a state of complete physical, social and mental well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” “Physical” and “mental” well-being in this definition is closely related to the body and its perception [ 3 ]. Overweight and obesity are on the rise in both developed and developing countries, posing a huge challenge for health care [ 4 ].…”

“…Dissatisfaction with one’s own appearance, adoption of strictly-controlled intensive workouts and restrictive diets, as well as avoidance of social contact and disruption of interpersonal relationships are the symptoms of another eating disorder, namely bigorexia nervosa. This disorder afflicts mainly men [ 26 ], but it has also been increasingly observed in young women [ 3 ]. Physical dysmorphia is synonymous with “reverse anorexia”, which was first described in the literature in the 1980s on the example of a group of body-builders [ 27 ].…”

“…Physical dysmorphia is synonymous with “reverse anorexia”, which was first described in the literature in the 1980s on the example of a group of body-builders [ 27 ]. Bigorexia encompasses environmental factors, such as social media influence, lack of self-confidence, peer pressure and eating attitudes, as well as personality traits, such as perfectionism [ 3 ]. Eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other eating disorders) affect young people around the world.…”

“…The process of studying at the university is also a complex experience for young people, during which they encounter factors that predispose them to increased susceptibility to mental disorders [ 48 ]. Anxiety connected with own appearance is the experience of being judged by others based on physical appearance, which may negatively impact individuals in their social life, including their academic and professional life [ 3 ]. In addition, university students represent a group at high risk of developing eating disorders (ED) [ 49 , 50 ].…”