WEIGHT-LOSS, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND NUTRITIONAL PATTERNS IN COMPETITIVE MALE BODY-BUILDERS

There has been increasing interest in the effects of chronic dieting a nd of repeated cycles of weight loss and regain in athletes. The purpo se of this investigation was to examine the eating and weight loss pra ctices, nutrition, and psychological factors in 45 male body builders competing in a drug-free competition. Subjects completed a questionnai re on the morning of a body building competition to assess the weight loss and dietary history, psychological distress, reports of binge eat ing, and vitamin and mineral supplement usage. The subjects reported h igh levels of dieting, weight loss, and weight regain. The mean weight loss reported in the competitive season was 6.8 kg; the mean weight g ain reported was 6.2 kg. Eighty-five percent reported gaining weight w hile 46% reported episodes of binge eating after competitions. Most (8 1.5%) reported being preoccupied with food sometimes, often, or always . Between 30 and 50% reported psychological distress when preparing fo r competition (anxiety, short temper, anger). A similar number (30-50% ) reported using amino acid, protein, and vitamin supplements. It appe ars that severe dieting practices are common in the sport of competiti ve body building. The potential physiological, psychological, and heal th implications of these practices, combined with the growing populari ty of body building, are of sufficient importance to warrant further a ttention by investigators and the body building community. (C) 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.