NASM Physique and Bodybuilding Coach Exam Test Questions with
Verified Answers
1. Evidence-based prac- An approach to practice where decisions are based
tice on (a) the best available research, (b) the unique
context, preferences, and values of the client, and
(c) the experiences of the practitioner.
2. Physical culture A 19th century cultural movement in Europe and
the United States that preceded organized strength
and physique sport which promoted health via reg-
ular training, typically including weight lifting.
3. Physique athlete Anyone who trains regularly for the primary pur-
pose of developing a muscular physique, whether
they compete in physique sport or not.
4. Symmetry The physique quality of muscular balance and pro-
portionality, from top to bottom, back to front, and
left to right.
5. X-frame The appearance of one's physique being x-shaped
due to having a small waist, wide shoulders, and
sweeping quadriceps. Having an x-frame is a large
part of symmetry.
6. Hypertrophy The process of muscle growth, specifically skeletal
muscle in the context of bodybuilding.
7. Contest preparation The process of dieting to extremely low body fat
levels, over multiple months, while maintaining as
much muscle as possible to be competitive in
physique sport.
8. Disordered eating Distressing eating behaviors which don't meet
diagnostic criteria for eating disorders; also de-
scribes behaviors associated with eating disorders
in research when diagnoses aren't made.
9. Orthorexia nervosa A not yet officially classified pathological focus on
healthy eating that causes anxiety when dietary
rules cannot be followed, which negatively impacts
psychosocial and physical health.
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, NASM Physique and Bodybuilding Coach Exam Test Questions with
Verified Answers
10. Binge eating disorder Recurring episodes of uncontrolled eating where
an unusually large amount of food is consumed in
a discrete period of time, often resulting in feelings
of guilt or shame.
11. Bulimia nervosa Regular episodes of binge eating frequently fol-
lowed by compensatory behavior such as exces-
sive exercise, extreme dieting or fasting, laxative
use, or self-induced vomiting.
12. Muscle dysmorphia A subset of body dysmorphic disorder where a
distressing belief that one is not muscular enough,
despite reality, causes obsessive training, eating,
and performance-enhancing drug use.
13. Causation A change in a variable causing a change in an
outcome. Controlled trials in research isolate vari-
ables to determine if changing one variable causes
a change in an outcome.
14. Motor A nerve that carries information away from the
central nervous system to the muscles to signal
contraction.
15. Sensory A nerve that carries information away from the body
about various senses to the central nervous system
about the sensory information.
16. Central nervous system The nervous system involving the brain and spinal
(CNS) cord.
17. Peripheral nervous sys- The nervous system outside of the central nervous
tem (PNS) system that involves the somatic/motor nerves and
the autonomic/visceral nerves.
18. Autonomic nervous The nervous system that signals to and from
system (ANS) smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, organs, and
glands.
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Verified Answers
1. Evidence-based prac- An approach to practice where decisions are based
tice on (a) the best available research, (b) the unique
context, preferences, and values of the client, and
(c) the experiences of the practitioner.
2. Physical culture A 19th century cultural movement in Europe and
the United States that preceded organized strength
and physique sport which promoted health via reg-
ular training, typically including weight lifting.
3. Physique athlete Anyone who trains regularly for the primary pur-
pose of developing a muscular physique, whether
they compete in physique sport or not.
4. Symmetry The physique quality of muscular balance and pro-
portionality, from top to bottom, back to front, and
left to right.
5. X-frame The appearance of one's physique being x-shaped
due to having a small waist, wide shoulders, and
sweeping quadriceps. Having an x-frame is a large
part of symmetry.
6. Hypertrophy The process of muscle growth, specifically skeletal
muscle in the context of bodybuilding.
7. Contest preparation The process of dieting to extremely low body fat
levels, over multiple months, while maintaining as
much muscle as possible to be competitive in
physique sport.
8. Disordered eating Distressing eating behaviors which don't meet
diagnostic criteria for eating disorders; also de-
scribes behaviors associated with eating disorders
in research when diagnoses aren't made.
9. Orthorexia nervosa A not yet officially classified pathological focus on
healthy eating that causes anxiety when dietary
rules cannot be followed, which negatively impacts
psychosocial and physical health.
1/6
, NASM Physique and Bodybuilding Coach Exam Test Questions with
Verified Answers
10. Binge eating disorder Recurring episodes of uncontrolled eating where
an unusually large amount of food is consumed in
a discrete period of time, often resulting in feelings
of guilt or shame.
11. Bulimia nervosa Regular episodes of binge eating frequently fol-
lowed by compensatory behavior such as exces-
sive exercise, extreme dieting or fasting, laxative
use, or self-induced vomiting.
12. Muscle dysmorphia A subset of body dysmorphic disorder where a
distressing belief that one is not muscular enough,
despite reality, causes obsessive training, eating,
and performance-enhancing drug use.
13. Causation A change in a variable causing a change in an
outcome. Controlled trials in research isolate vari-
ables to determine if changing one variable causes
a change in an outcome.
14. Motor A nerve that carries information away from the
central nervous system to the muscles to signal
contraction.
15. Sensory A nerve that carries information away from the body
about various senses to the central nervous system
about the sensory information.
16. Central nervous system The nervous system involving the brain and spinal
(CNS) cord.
17. Peripheral nervous sys- The nervous system outside of the central nervous
tem (PNS) system that involves the somatic/motor nerves and
the autonomic/visceral nerves.
18. Autonomic nervous The nervous system that signals to and from
system (ANS) smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, organs, and
glands.
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