Approximations to an Integrated Model of Eating Disorders and Muscle Dysmorphia among University Male Students in Argentina

Male body dissatisfaction has been associated with drive for muscularity and, in extreme cases, with the clinical condition referred to as muscle dysmorphia (MD). Although recent research suggests that MD is closely linked to eating disorders (EDs), it is classed as a subtype of body dysmorphic disorder. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 402 university male students in Buenos Aires to examine common factors in the development of EDs and MD. Multiple regression analyses were performed to assess the predictive value of the investigated variables. For both conditions, the models accounted for 48 percent of the variance and were predicted by a similar set of variables. The results support the inclusion of MD within the EDs spectrum.