Objective: To investigate the relationship between risk of eating disorders, body dissatisfaction, and perceptual attractiveness in male university students.
Participants: Research was conducted January-April 2012 and involved 339 male and 441 female students.
Methods: Eating disorder risk was assessed with the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) and body dissatisfaction and perceptual attractiveness determined with the Bodybuilder Image Grid (BIG).
Results: There was a positive correlation (r=.16, p<.01) between the EAT and fat dissatisfaction and a negative correlation (r=-.14, p<.05) for muscle dissatisfaction, 28% of the males had an EAT score indicating that they were at risk for an eating disorder. Males chose a significantly more muscular and leaner body type than what females chose to be attractive.
Conclusion: College-aged males may be at risk for eating disorders based on distortions in their perceived ideal body image, both for fat and muscle.
Keywords: Bodybuilder Image Grid (BIG); Eating Attitudes Test; anabolic-androgenic steroids; body dissatisfaction; male university students.