#BodyPositivity: The Role of Body Appreciation and Body Mass Index for Muscle Dysmorphia, Body Attitudes and Exercise Motives Among Men

Objectives: The main aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that men with high body appreciation and healthy (normal) weight would have significantly lower levels of muscle dysmorphia and the non-adaptive (negative) multiple dimensions of body attitudes, as well as higher levels of the selected pro-health and adaptive exercise motives, than those men with low body appreciation and excess body weight. Methods: A total of 374 Polish men (Mage = 28.96 ± 8.52) completed the following questionnaires: (a) the Body Appreciation Scale-2, (b) the Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory, (c) the Male Body Attitude Scale, and (d) the Exercise Motivations Inventory-2. Results: By analyzing the most important findings, it was discovered, as hypothesized, that significant differences (in terms of most of the assessed scale/subscales) were found between men who had high body appreciation and healthy weight (Cluster 4), and men with low body appreciation and excess body weight (Cluster 3). Cluster 4 (vs. Cluster 3) was characterized as follows: (a) considering muscle dysmorphia, these participants had lower levels in terms of the total score and subscale of appearance intolerance; (b) they had fewer non-adaptive (negative) body attitudes, with lower total scores and lower scores on two subscales (body fat and height); (c) for the selected pro-health and adaptive exercise motives, Cluster 4 had higher levels on all subscales. Conclusions: Our results show that holding views in line with positive body image is also beneficial for the functioning of adult men. However, further research needs to be conducted in this area to determine whether the content in the interventions and prevention activities for both sexes should be the same and what factors should be taken into account in order to influence excessive fixation on a muscularity.