"Is bodybuilding an eating disorder?"

[DK II]

Everything like a sport or a (sub)cult or even a cultural trend like tattooing or piercing is "strange" to the eyes of an outsider who doesn't understand what they're seeing. Bodybuilding isn't normal, for sure, but I don't think it's strange either.

Things could be done differently in terms of presentation or judging, but no one is going to take the initiative or be successful if they do, probably because the existing system isn't broken, the gay aspect of it notwithstanding

Anyway, I wasn't just referring to just bodybuilding being misunderstood by the majority - anyone who is obsessed with something they love working on is seen as someone who needs help and people often try to talk them out of it / being so odd and eccentric. You know what I'm talking about.

Exactly, if WL was right, holding a net on a stick in your hand and hitting a small yellow ball back and forth is a disorder as well.

[affeman]

In any political environment and culture, men strutting around to weird music, all oiled up and thonged will look strange. That's just reality.

Not stranger than 22 sweating proles in shorts and knee high socks on a turf chasing a ball.

What you consider as "strange" has been forced on you by society. You consider as "normal" what the majority considers as "normal", as simple as that.

[kiwiol]

Exactly, if WL was right, holding a net on a stick in your hand and hitting a small yellow ball back and forth is a disorder as well.

Not stranger than 22 sweating proles in shorts and knee high socks on a turf chasing a ball.

What you consider as "strange" has been forced on you by society. You consider as "normal" what the majority considers as "normal", as simple as that.

Bingo

[doozejooze]

What about the fixation on foods in particular? Of course other individuals in sports have fantastic diets and regimented eating plans, but no other magazine in any sport devotes as much space, research, and prose to food and food science as does bodybuilding. Put on muscle diet, strip fat diet, the 5 must have foods. The industry seems to generate around eating as opposed to other sports. This is not a discussion exactly on how strange the industry is or the sport, more a question of the validity of the statement about bodybuilders having eating disorders. Obviously, not a black and white conclusive question.

P.S.  Hot dog eating contests excluded from this discussion

[wavelength]

Exactly, if WL was right, holding a net on a stick in your hand and hitting a small yellow ball back and forth is a disorder as well.

weird isn't bad it's just weird

[burn2live]

It can be. Imo it needs to be looked at in the context of the individual, like most illnesses

[Earl1972]

it's only a disorder if it's your life and you have no chance of getting paid for it

E

[Van_Bilderass]

Interview female competitive bodybuilders and note the number who have eating disorders in their backgrounds (before starting bodybuilding).

Lots of OCD types in general gravitate towards bb.

[SF1900]

Awesome contribution SF1900, thank you for that insight. What would it mean as far as a clinical stand point for bodybuilding to be seen as an eating disorder?

Thanks. What do you mean "as far as a clinical standpoint for bodybuilding to be seen as an eating disorder?" Do you mean what criteria would it have to meet? Or how would symptoms looks?

[Rami]

We are all impaired, that's why we are here on this forum.

[doozejooze]

Thanks again SF, yes, "What criteria would have to be met?" Would there be anything new or different? VonBild- had a good point (whether true or not) that history of eating disorders or OCD might be rampant in the pasts of many bodybuilders. If there is found to uniformity amongst BBers as to other disorders than might that make a profile of sorts that will allow health care professionals approach the 'eating disorder?' Meaning-(I guess) turning to bodybuilding is a unique and rare reaction to a disorder, if it really is one. Example- don't people that have eating disorders usually shun crowds and group experiences as opposed to bodybuilders that seek and crave attention and acceptance!

[SF1900]

Thanks again SF, yes, "What criteria would have to be met?" Would there be anything new or different? VonBild- had a good point (whether true or not) that history of eating disorders or OCD might be rampant in the pasts of many bodybuilders. If there is found to uniformity amongst BBers as to other disorders than might that make a profile of sorts that will allow health care professionals approach the 'eating disorder?' Meaning-(I guess) turning to bodybuilding is a unique and rare reaction to a disorder, if it really is one. Example- don't people that have eating disorders usually shun crowds and group experiences as opposed to bodybuilders that seek and crave attention and acceptance!

Well, they would definitely be diagnosed with Body Dysmorphic disorder. Also, I think a lot bodybuilders might have symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder and OCD. So, instead of shunning crowds, they have to be the focus of attention. Obviously, underlying issues such as depression, low self-esteem can all be part of the picture.