Fit or nothing! University students’ exercise addiction, eating disorders and mediator effect of sports supplement use

Abstract

Researches have revealed that most of the university age male individuals are not satisfied with their body image and prefer a more muscular body. This has revealed the accepted phenomena in mental illness classifications such as exercise dependence and eating disorder. In line with this information, the main purpose of the research is to examine the mediating effect of the use of sports supplements on the relationship between exercise addiction and eating disorder. 372 male university students participated in the research. Validity and reliability analyze were applied to the obtained data within the scope of the measurement model. The steps expressed by Baron and Kenny (1986) were followed in order to determine the mediation effect. As a result of the analysis, it has been empirically proved that the use of sports supplements mediates the relationship between exercise addiction and eating disorder. The results of the research have contributed significantly to the ongoing discussions as one of the leading researches in the literature. In addition, it provided clues to the researchers and practitioners who obtained the results in the detection and treatment of such important mental disorders.

Obligatory exercise in young adults

“…40 The use of supplements is extremely widespread and young men are especially encouraged to take them. 41 Long-term usage of various supplements is associated with addictive mechanisms. 42 Data from the current study are in accordance with the findings regarding the effects of gender, supplements and a group of exercisers -students and recreationalists on obligatory exercise.…”

“…38 In male university students, sports supplements mediate the relation between exercise addiction and eating disorders. 41 Recreational exercisers also have a higher risk for exercise addiction if they are using supplements. 39 However, in our research we got slightly different findings -male recreational exercisers who are not using any supplements show the highest rates of exercise emotionality.…”