Muscle-Building Supplements Tied to Muscle Dysmorphia Symptomatology

Findings seen among adolescents and young adults

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2025 (HealthDay News) — The use of multiple muscle-building supplements is associated with muscle dysmorphia symptomatology, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in PLOS Mental Health.

Kyle T. Ganson, Ph.D., M.S.W., from the University of Toronto, and colleagues investigated the association between muscle-building supplement use and muscle dysmorphia symptomatology among Canadian adolescents and young adults. The analysis included data from 2,731 participants (mean age, 22.9 years) in the Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviors.

The researchers found that using all six muscle-building supplements (e.g., amino acids/branched-chain amino acids, creatine monohydrate, preworkout drinks or powders, protein bars, weight/mass gainers, and whey protein shakes or powders) and using a greater number of muscle-building supplements were associated with greater total muscle dysmorphia symptomatology. Additionally, use of more muscle-building supplements was associated with greater odds of meeting the clinical cutoff for muscle dysmorphia.

“These findings add to a growing body of literature on the association between muscle-building supplement use and muscle dysmorphia symptomatology by including multiple muscle-building supplements and utilizing a diverse, national sample of adolescents and young adults,” the authors write. “Findings warrant further investigation and the development of intervention strategies to decrease the use of increasingly normalized muscle-building supplements and muscle dysmorphia symptomatology.”