Mirror, mirror on the wall: the role of narcissism, muscle dysmorphia, and self-esteem in bodybuilders’ muscularity-oriented disordered eating

The negative effect of problematic muscularity-oriented eating has been well-documented in the current literature. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the primary factors that could lead to the beginning and pursuit of such practices. The current research explored the association between narcissism (grandiose and vulnerable) and problematic muscularity-oriented eating, addressing the mediating effect of self-esteem and muscle dysmorphia as reflected in functional impairment (i.e., feelings of guilt when skipping exercise and avoiding social situations because of body image concerns), desire for size (i.e., preoccupations about the inadequate size), and appearance intolerance (i.e., appearance anxiety or body exposure avoidance). The study was carried out with 151 competitive bodybuilders of the category men’s and women’s physique. Results indicated that the association between grandiose narcissism and problematic muscularity-oriented eating was mediated only by appearance intolerance. In addition, only functional impairment mediated the interplay between vulnerable narcissism and problematic muscularity-oriented eating. These findings yield relevant theoretical implications about the main factors underpinning eating practices that are particularly risky for individual health. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.