Scientific Production on Muscularity is Concentrated in Five Countries: A Global Bibliometric Analysis (1981–2024)

Abstract

Concerns about muscularity are prevalent among men in Western cultures and have increasingly emerged among women in recent decades. This drive for muscularity is associated with aesthetic and health standards that generate social pressure and may influence disordered eating behaviours. To foster scientific advancement in this area, it is essential to identify the current state of research on muscularity. This study proposes a bibliometric analysis of global scientific production about muscularity from 1981 to 2024, using the Web of Science database. A total of 807 articles were identified through a search strategy combining the terms “drive for muscularity” OR “muscularity” OR “muscularity concerns.” The analysis examined publication trends, authorship, country, and keyword co-occurrence using VOSviewer. Results indicate a sharp increase in publications between 2019 and 2024, accounting for 49.2% of all studies. The United States and Australia were the most prolific countries, and Body Image was the leading journal. The findings highlight the growing scholarly interest in muscularity, particularly through theoretical and theoretical-empirical frameworks. This review offers an overview for researchers, clinicians, and practitioners in psychology, nutrition, and health sciences seeking to understand the social and psychological risks associated with the idealised muscular body.