Male Body Image Issues: What, Why, and How to Heal
Male body image issues are not uncommon, yet more than 75 percent of Americans believe that women are under more pressure than men to maintain a certain body shape. There’s a frequent misconception that body image issues are just a “woman’s problem,” overlooking the men who suffer, too.
Not only is this common stereotype false, but it’s also harmful, given the sheer lack of reporting we have on male body image issues. Research shows that anywhere from 8 to 90 percent of boys and men experience dissatisfaction with their bodies at some point in life.
This ambiguous data speaks to how hard it can be for men to disclose their body image issues, let alone seek help. But the truth is, body image pressures and insecurities are not confined to one narrow gender binary.
When we talk about these body image concerns, we must create space for male-identifying folks in the conversation. Let’s explore the nuances of how this issue manifests for boys and men, along with action steps you can take to begin healing.
Laying the Foundation of Male Body Image Issue
Let’s start with some quick facts from The Journal of Eating Disorders:
Body image is the set of beliefs a person holds about the shape, weight, size, and composition of their body, as well as certain behaviors used to either change or maintain their body.
About 50 percent of men over age 18 express a desire to lose weight, the journal continues.
Unlike women, who often internalize a drive for thinness, men feel more pressure to achieve a lean, muscular look.
This dissatisfaction can start at an early age for boys, just as it does for girls. Another study explains:
Boys can exhibit signs of body dissatisfaction as early as ages 7 to 8.
Boys who are teased or ostracized for their weight are especially vulnerable.
These childhood experiences often become strong predictors of low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, or weight-control behaviors later in life.
One of the most common body image distortions men tend to suffer from is muscle dysmorphia, an obsessive, extreme pursuit of muscularity. But less than 3 percent of men in North America receive a clinical diagnosis, which can make it difficult to access treatment.
Transgender men face an even higher risk for muscle dysmorphia as a result of discrimination, scrutiny, objectification, and cultural stigmas that pressure them to reflect a traditional masculine norm.
Still, cisgender men are not immune to the influences that contribute to poor body image. Males across the spectrum can feel shame or self-criticism toward their own bodies, so let’s unearth the deeper roots beneath this issue.
Causes of Male Body Image Issues
As with women, men experience body image issues for many reasons, ranging from societal expectations to gender and cultural pressures. While the following list is not exhaustive, here are some common reasons men suffer from body dissatisfaction.
Media or societal expectations. Research points to a direct correlation between the body-centric content men view on social media platforms and how they feel about their own bodies. Frequent exposure to visuals promoting a “lean, muscular ideal” can cause unrealistic comparisons, insecurities, and unhealthy behaviors in an effort to achieve mainstream society’s depiction of how a man “should” look.
Masculine norms and stigmas. Cultural narratives that tell us “real men” don’t worry about their appearance or deal with the same weight-related anxieties that women do can make it hard for some men to seek out help for a body image issue. This stigmatization of male body dissatisfaction can cause men to channel those complex emotions into restrictive diets or compulsive exercise. No wonder the lifetime prevalence of eating disorders in men has risen by 22 percent over the last 10 years.
Sports and fitness cultures. According to the Sports Health Journal, male athletes are more prone to eating disorders than other men. That’s because athletic subcultures often valorize attributes such as controlled eating habits, strenuous training protocols, and extreme self-sacrifice in the name of performance. Many athletes also equate leanness with higher fitness levels, which can further impact body image.
Intersectional vulnerabilities. Men from marginalized communities are more likely to encounter body image issues in Western cultures that show preferential treatment to heterosexual white males. This is often due to minority stress, a phenomenon in which discrimination causes someone to adopt negative beliefs about how they look, act, or present. Queer men of color are especially vulnerable to minority stress, which also puts them at an increased risk for appearance-modifying behaviors.
Steps to Start Healing
As research shows, the vast majority of therapeutic interventions for eating disorders or other body image issues center on the needs of female patients.
Combine this treatment gap with the fact that men are taught to be self-reliant, view help as a sign of weakness, and feel too ashamed to confront, much less heal from, their body image struggles, making a change can feel impossible.
Still, healing is possible, and these steps can lead to healthier outcomes.
Challenge Media Narratives: Mute or unfollow social media accounts that glamorize one binary “masculine ideal.” Practice media literacy with all the messages you consume on social platforms, television, and other outlets. Ask yourself: “Does this make me feel confident or insecure about my appearance?” If it reinforces body dissatisfaction, limit your exposure to that content—or tune it out altogether.
Reframe Fitness Goals: Shift the focus of your workout routine from appearance (body size or muscle definition) to function (endurance, strength, and flexibility). Instead of running to burn calories or lifting to be “jacked,” choose a goal that frees you up to enjoy movement. Research tells us that appreciating the body for what it can do, not how it looks, correlates with a healthier body image.
Communicate Your Emotions: According to a recent survey of 1,000 men, 40 percent haven’t spoken to anyone about their mental health. There are many reasons for this, from shame to stigma, but the more you remain silent, the more those body insecurities can manifest as harmful behaviors. Sharing with a trusted person is critical to healing.
Talk About It With Friends: You are not alone. More importantly, when you tell a close friend you’re struggling, and they share similar experiences, or those of someone they know with similar experiences, you feel less alone. Healing happens in community.
Heal With Project HEAL
Healing is possible. If you need financial support for therapy or treatment, we may be able to support you in accessing that help. Learn about our treatment access programs.
