Objectives: to examine the importance of body building in recreational students at the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University Osijek. Study design: cross-sectional study conducted in the period from March to April 2022. Participanes and methods: 125 students participated in the study. The data were collected through an anonymous questionnaire that was available to respondents via the Google Forms form, and consists of socio-demographic questions and questions about the reasons for going to the gym, the importance of physical appearance of the younger population and what affects it, questions about elements affecting physical perception appearance, questions about the eating behavior of active recreationists in bodybuilding, and questions about the attitude of recreationists toward stimulants and supplements. Results: The analysis of the collected data showed that the respondents who participated in the study go to the gym primarily for health and physical appearance and to achieve the desired results prefer functional training and strength training and the gym has a positive effect on their productivity and satisfaction. Respondents rate their quality of life and physical health as very good and most are satisfied with their physical appearance. The media have an influence on the perception of physical appearance in the respondents, but to the greatest extent they themselves influence how they perceive their physical appearance. Students are familiar with the importance of a healthy diet, as well as the importance of a balanced diet with training, but also the harmful effects of supplements on health, so they generally do not use supplements to shape their physical appearance. bodybuilder health. Conclusion: Most students of the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health in Osijek are engaged in physical activity and understand the importance of exercise and a healthy diet on health and physical appearance. Also, students understand the potential harmful effects of supplements and substances on health and in achieving the desired physical appearance most do not use supplements and substances, but believe they can help bodybuilders although they acknowledge the risks of using supplements and substances on the health of bodybuilders.