Abstract

Background: Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, numerous female fitness centers have been recently introduced to Saudi society. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a universal psychological distress in which individuals, especially women, have a distorted perception of their body shape or size. This study aims to examine BDD, exercise addiction (EA), habits, and other psychosocial correlates among women attending fitness centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 464 female gym members. The survey contained questions about social demographics, habits, and usage of dietary supplements, and utilized validated scales for assessing mental health: depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item scale), generalized anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale-7), exercise addiction inventory, and BDD (appearance anxiety inventory).
Results: The majority of fitness center users belonged to a younger age group, and most were students. The prevalence of BDD in our study was 10.1%, whereas the prevalence of EA stood at 0.9%. The risk for both BDD and EA increased among single women, those with anxiety or depression, and individuals using dietary supplements.
Conclusion: The paper examines the main demographics of attendees at fitness centers and the prevalence and associated factors of BDD among women in Riyadh fitness centers. We discovered a portion of the population at risk of BDD within this cohort. Further studies are required to evaluate the effectiveness of intervention programs for confronting BDD, particularly among young women.

Key words: Body dysmorphic disorder. Exercise addiction. Fitness Settings. Women’s mental health. Saudi Arabia. Prevalence. Cross-sectional study