INVESTIGATING LEVELS OF BIGOREXIA NERVOSA AND OVERTRAINING SYNDROME AMONG COLLEGIATE ATHLETES

Abstract

Background: Bigorexia nervosa is a body dysmorphic disorder characterized by individual desire to have less fat mass and obsession with increasing muscle mass. It includes environmental factors such as media influence, insecurity, peer influence, and dietary attitudes addition to personality traits such as perfectionism. As a result, these people tend to engage in excessive muscle –oriented physical activity. A sports specific decline in performance accompanied by fatigue, mood changes and diminished performance is how OTS is defined. A period of recovery lasting weeks or months is still not enough to overcome under-performance.

Objective: The objective of the study was to find out the investigating levels of bigorexia nervosa and overtraining syndrome among collegiate athletes.

Method: The study was a cross sectional design conducted at University of Management and Technology, Lahore. A convenience sampling method was used. The sample size of the study was 162 male and female collegiate athletes. The tools used for the study was Drive for Muscularity Scale and Profile of Mood States.

Result: The current study shows that out of 162 participants 39.5% participants have moderate to high bigorexia nervosa and 95.1% participants fell into mild category of POMS (over-training syndrome). 78 males and 76 females have mild overtraining syndrome. 52 female participants have low to moderate drive for muscularity (bigorexia nervosa). Conclusion: These findings concluded 154 participants have mild overtraining syndrome. While there is significant association observed between bigorexia nervosa and overtraining syndrome with p-value of 0.00, 62 participants have moderate to high bigorexia nervosa. No association was observed between gender and overtraining syndrome. A significant association was also observed between gender and bigorexia nervosa.