Bodybuilding Supplements Increase Eating Disorder Risk In Men, Study Warns

Though previous studies have shown a link to unrealistic body ideals in gym-active gay men, researchers highlight the fact that their study found this occurs in men of all sexual orientations.

40 percent of the study participants reported an increase in the use of supplements over time.

The study team presented detailed results at American Psychological Association’s annual convention.

“The most critical implication for these findings is to put risky/excessive legal supplement use on the map as an issue facing a significant number of men”, Achiro said in a statement.

Most alarming, said Achiro, was that 29 percent said they were concerned about their own use of supplements.

The widespread consumption of over-the-counter body-building supplements is emerging as an eating disorder, a study has warned. “It is an expression, or variance, of eating disorder behavior in these men”, said Richard Achiro, of the California School of Professional Psychology at the university.

Factors such as body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and gender role conflict seem to be causes of the misuse of legal workout supplements, researchers conclude. The authors surveyed 195 men aged over 18 years who had consumed some type of legal APED within 30 days and worked out at least twice per week. Participants also had stated that they work out for fitness or appearance-related reasons a minimum of two times a week. Men who had body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem were more likely to report using the pills, powders and protein bars, the researchers found. So were men who most internalized the cultural ideal of male bodies as lean and muscular and those who held traditional views about masculinity that were so rigid they caused distress.

They said as with anorexia, bulimia and other recognised eating disorders, men are using the supplements to replace meals, while others have been warned to cut down by doctors.

“I think some of this can be used in a safe manner, but, as with all things, some people like to overdo it”, said White, who is a spokesman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

A combination of factors appear to contribute to use of the supplements.

“Mostly, we push that you get all of your meals from real food”, he said. However, the use of dietary supplements as replacement of regular diet is not recommended.

The products are popular among gym members to increase energy and build lean tissue mass. But researchers at Alliant worldwide University in Los Angeles said overuse is increasing and risky.

The research team suggests that men should consider their health instead of body image.

“The way in which men’s bodies are being objectified by the media is catching up rapidly to what has been done to women’s bodies for decades,” Achiro told Reuters.

The survey also gave clues about individuals who are more likely to abuse legal supplements.

“They need to pay attention to why exactly is this so important to them”, Franzoi continued.