Is There a Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Eating Disorder Symptoms in Professional Male Fashion Models?

Abstract

This study is the first to examine the utility of body mass index (BMI) as an indicator of eating disorder (ED) pathology and fitness for employment for professional male fashion models. We assessed the relationship between experimenter-measured BMI, muscle mass, body fat percentage, and ED severity (EDE-Q score) in male models and nonmodels. Except for higher eating concern, the two groups displayed similar EDE-Q scores after controlling for age. Models relative to nonmodels endorsed significantly greater frequency of compulsive exercise and self-induced vomiting as a means of controlling shape or weight. BMI was a poor indicator of body fat percentage in models. Lower BMI in models, and higher BMI in nonmodels, was associated with higher EDE-Q scores. Interestingly, all the male models with clinically significant EDE-Q scores (≥4.0) had >18.5 experimenter-measured BMI. Higher muscle mass in models, and lower muscle mass in nonmodels, was associated with higher EDE-Q scores. Inversely, lower percentage body fat in models, and higher percentage body fat in nonmodels, was associated with higher EDE-Q scores. BMI, muscle mass, and percentage body fat were associated with ED tendencies in male models and nonmodels. Findings also suggest males with clinical ED symptoms would be overlooked if only low BMI (<18.5) was considered. These results may guide the development of more effective mandates to safeguard models’ wellbeing, and men generally.