While not every fitness enthusiast is at risk of developing MODE, this intense preoccupation with muscle growth is growing. According to one 2019 study, 22 per cent of males and 5 per cent of females aged 18 to 20 reported engaging in behaviour consistent with MODE.
College students may be particularly at risk of MODE due to their high use of social media and because they’re often in control of their diet for the first time.
MODE has been closely associated with preoccupation with body image, which is known to be linked with unhealthy, body-changing behaviours.
Several other factors have also been associated with MODE. These include exercising specifically to gain weight, perceiving oneself as underweight, having a lower body mass index (BMI), practising weightlifting and using anabolic steroids. Among males, alcohol consumption is linked to MODE, while depressive symptoms were a notable factor for females.
MODE has also been reported at comparable rates in many countries around the world – including the United States, Canada and Iran.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HARMS
There are many physical and mental harms that may be associated with MODE.
For instance, the condition is associated with a variety of disordered eating patterns. Fixation on muscle development can trigger or exacerbate eating disorders, notably binge eating. Orthorexia nervosa – a pathological and potentially harmful focus on “healthy eating” – is also frequently recorded in fitness communities.
