The negative
influence of mass culture that promotes an idealized body not only affects
girls, but boys as well. In fact, according to a recent study in Greece, both
adolescent boys and girls had similar levels of body dissatisfaction.1
According to an Australian study, almost 60 % of adolescent boys were trying to
build their bodies and 74 % believed they should grow their muscles.2
This drive for increased muscle mass can lead to dangerous practices such as
excessive exercise, unnecessary dietary supplements, or even illegal or banned
performance enhancing drugs.
A research
article published in the Journal of the
International Society of Sports Nutrition, 3 conducted a study to investigate the relationship between body
dissatisfaction and attitudes towards performance enhancing drug use in sports
to influence education and health promotion programs.
The
researchers of the study issued a survey to 1148 male adolescent students (ages
11 to 21) to assess body image, supplement use, and attitudes towards doping in
sports.
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| source: http://www.colorsmagazine.com/blog/article/bigorexia-arnold-lee |
Body Image:
883 of the
adolescent boys indicated their body as ‘about right,’ 111 indicated their body
as ‘too thin,’ and 142 selected ‘too fat.’
Body image by use of products:
Researcher
found that adolescent boys who reported using supplements, like vitamins and
minerals, protein powders, or sports drinks were more likely to have higher
levels of body dissatisfaction.
Attitudes towards doping in sports:
Those who
used supplements were more likely to have more lenient attitudes towards the
use of drugs in sports.
This is the
first study to report a significant, positive correlation indication that
adolescent boys who have higher levels of body dissatisfaction are more likely
to be supportive of the use of performance enhancing drugs in sports.
Practical implications:
RDNs can work
with athletic trainers to help educate athletes on safe and effective ways to
build muscle and increase sports performance without the use of doping.
Inversely, athletic trainers can work with RDNs to help athletes effectively
fuel and recover from their workouts with optimal nutrition.
Programs
aiming to prevent body dissatisfaction and the use of performance enhancing
drugs could be coupled as a preventative. Additionally, materials and handouts
about the potentially dangerous effects of certain supplements and performance
enhancing drugs can be implemented.
The Athletes
Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids (ATLAS) program is successful in the
prevention of anabolic steroid use among high school athletes and is an
excellent resource.
Gavin Van De Walle is an ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer, a NANBF Natural
Competitive bodybuilder, a nutrition columnist for “The Collegian,” and a dietetic
student at South Dakota State University. Following graduation, Gavin will aim
to achieve the distinguished Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD)
credential.
