Frontiers in Public Health
Self-confidence and body image among adults engaged in daily bodybuilding exercise compared with non-exercising adults: a case-control study
Background Regular bodybuilding and resistance training may positively influence psychological wellbeing, particularly self-confidence and body image perception. This study aimed to compare self-confidence and body image between adults engaged in daily bodybuilding exercise and non-exercising adults in Iraq. Methods A case-control study was conducted in Al-Diwaniyah City, Iraq, between August 2025 and April 2026. A total of 188 participants were enrolled using a purposive sampling method, including 94 adults engage …