Prevalence and correlates of muscle dysmorphia in a sample of boys and men in Canada and the United States

Kyle T. Ganson; Deborah Mitchison; Rachel F. Rodgers; Stuart B. Murray; Alexander Testa; Jason M. Nagata

doi:10.1186/s40337-025-01233-x

Prevalence and correlates of muscle dysmorphia in a sample of boys and men in Canada and the United States

Kyle T. Ganson
, Deborah Mitchison
, Rachel F. Rodgers
, Stuart B. Murray
, Alexander Testa
, Jason M. Nagata

Translational Health Research Institute

University of Toronto
University of Technology Sydney
Northeastern University
CHU Montpellier
Hôpital du Cotentin
University of Southern California
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
University of California at San Francisco

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

16 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Probable muscle dysmorphia occurred at a prevalence of 2.8% among a sample of boys and men in Canada and the United States. There were minimal sociodemographic differences between those with and without probable muscle dysmorphia. The findings from this study underscore that muscle dysmorphia may be more common among boys and men than previously thought and that the condition occurs across sociodemographic groups. Prevention and intervention efforts for public health and healthcare professionals should consider the broad representation of muscle dysmorphia among boys and men.

Original language	English
Article number	47
Number of pages	10
Journal	Journal of Eating Disorders
Volume	13
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-025-01233-x
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025

Keywords

Boys
Canada
Epidemiology
Gender
Men
Mental health
Muscle dysmorphia
Transgender men
United States

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10.1186/s40337-025-01233-xLicence: CC BY

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title = "Prevalence and correlates of muscle dysmorphia in a sample of boys and men in Canada and the United States",

abstract = "Probable muscle dysmorphia occurred at a prevalence of 2.8\% among a sample of boys and men in Canada and the United States. There were minimal sociodemographic differences between those with and without probable muscle dysmorphia. The findings from this study underscore that muscle dysmorphia may be more common among boys and men than previously thought and that the condition occurs across sociodemographic groups. Prevention and intervention efforts for public health and healthcare professionals should consider the broad representation of muscle dysmorphia among boys and men.",

keywords = "Boys, Canada, Epidemiology, Gender, Men, Mental health, Muscle dysmorphia, Transgender men, United States",

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AU - Ganson, Kyle T.

AU - Mitchison, Deborah

AU - Rodgers, Rachel F.

AU - Murray, Stuart B.

AU - Testa, Alexander

AU - Nagata, Jason M.

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - Probable muscle dysmorphia occurred at a prevalence of 2.8% among a sample of boys and men in Canada and the United States. There were minimal sociodemographic differences between those with and without probable muscle dysmorphia. The findings from this study underscore that muscle dysmorphia may be more common among boys and men than previously thought and that the condition occurs across sociodemographic groups. Prevention and intervention efforts for public health and healthcare professionals should consider the broad representation of muscle dysmorphia among boys and men.

AB - Probable muscle dysmorphia occurred at a prevalence of 2.8% among a sample of boys and men in Canada and the United States. There were minimal sociodemographic differences between those with and without probable muscle dysmorphia. The findings from this study underscore that muscle dysmorphia may be more common among boys and men than previously thought and that the condition occurs across sociodemographic groups. Prevention and intervention efforts for public health and healthcare professionals should consider the broad representation of muscle dysmorphia among boys and men.

KW - Boys

KW - Canada

KW - Epidemiology

KW - Gender

KW - Men

KW - Mental health

KW - Muscle dysmorphia

KW - Transgender men

KW - United States

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105000330281

U2 - 10.1186/s40337-025-01233-x

DO - 10.1186/s40337-025-01233-x

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105000330281

SN - 2050-2974

VL - 13

JO - Journal of Eating Disorders

JF - Journal of Eating Disorders

IS - 1

M1 - 47

ER -

Prevalence and correlates of muscle dysmorphia in a sample of boys and men in Canada and the United States

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