Muscularity versus leanness: An examination of body ideals and predictors of disordered eating in heterosexual and gay college students

The aim of the current study was to add to the growing body of research on men with eating disorders by examining the association between different types of body dissatisfaction (muscularity and body fat) and disordered eating in heterosexual and gay men. Two hundred four participants (over one-third were gay) completed measures assessing disordered eating, muscularity and body fat dissatisfaction, and sexual orientation. Body fat dissatisfaction, but not muscularity dissatisfaction, predicted disordered eating, dietary restraint, and concerns about weight and eating in gay and heterosexual men. These findings were consistent across all measures of body fat and muscularity dissatisfaction, providing stronger evidence that body fat dissatisfaction may be a greater risk factor for disordered eating in both gay and heterosexual college aged men than muscularity dissatisfaction.

► The aim of the current study was to add to the growing body of research on men with eating disorders by examining the association between different types of body dissatisfaction (muscularity and body fat) and disordered eating in heterosexual and gay men.
► Body fat dissatisfaction, but not muscularity dissatisfaction, predicted disordered eating, dietary restraint, and concerns about weight and eating in gay and heterosexual men.
► These findings were consistent across all measures of body fat and muscularity dissatisfaction, providing stronger evidence that body fat dissatisfaction may be a greater risk factor for disordered eating in both gay and heterosexual college aged men than muscularity dissatisfaction.
► In terms of their own ideal body types, we found that compared to gay men, heterosexual men preferred a more muscular figure; the groups did not differ in terms of how lean they ideally wanted to be.
► There were differences between participants’ own ideal body type and what they thought a potential mate would find attractive, and the pattern of results differed for homosexual and heterosexual men. Heterosexual men desired a more muscular figure than they thought a potential mate would want. On the other hand, gay men thought a potential mate preferred a leaner figure than they ideally desired for themselves.