Extreme hunger and binge eating after a bodybuilding competition are not due to a lack of willpower, but to an adaptive biological survival reaction following severe caloric restriction.

noli's read

This advice aligns firmly with current knowledge in sports physiology. Research, notably studies on physique athletes (e.g., Helms et al., 2014 in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition), confirms that contest preparation induces marked hormonal adaptations, including an increase in ghrelin (hunger hormone) and a drop in leptin (satiety hormone), validating the biological aspect described. The mechanism of 'adaptive thermogenesis' is a documented phenomenon where the body seeks to restore its energy reserves after a period of prolonged deficit. The analysis of psychological factors, such as the sudden disruption of a rigid dietary structure, is also supported by observational studies on eating disorders in strength athletes. If the term 'binge' is used here in a behavioral context, science confirms that this response is a logical consequence of restriction and not a moral weakness. There is no notable exaggeration in this explanation, as it faithfully reflects the literature on the side effects of extreme diets.

the sources

No named source held this one up — that absence is part of the verdict.