Females have been fed a steady diet of perfect body images in the media for years. Unrealistic female physiques have been splashed across billboards and fashion magazine covers for decades. Even dolls sported impossible proportions that caused young women to loathe their own appearance and develop eating disorders. Teen males have not been linked to this issue…until now.
The number of teen males dissatisfied with their bodies has tripled over the last 25 years and many even have distorted perceptions of their appearance—a condition known as body dysmorphic disorder. Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental illness where an individual focuses obsessively on self-perceived physical flaws.
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While women have been the focus of the perfect body type for years, the recent shift in media placing focus on the male body type is creating very similar problems. Unattainable physique has created unrealistic expectations, anxiety, mental health issues, and eating disorders for women, but now, it’s the male’s turn.
The rate of males dissatisfied with their bodies has tripled over the last 25 years. This has created sky high rates of body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD, a mental illness that causes an individual to place obsessive focus on what they perceive to be appearance flaws.
This obsession can lead to steroid abuse and eating disorders.
45% of the teen male population is unhappy with their image compared to 15% in the early 1990s. Dissatisfaction centers on overall appearance:
Both teen males and girls experience angst over their appearance, yet the disorder manifests differently by gender. So does the area of concern.
Teenage girls tend to internalize negative messages and obsess about weight loss to obtain a thin appearance. While girls are more open than guys about dieting, if their weight loss method includes an eating disorder, they go to great lengths to hide it. And no matter how thin they get, they see an overweight person in the mirror.
Teenage boys strive for a muscular physique. They may engage in extreme exercise, especially weight training many hours per day. Teen boys rarely admit they are unhappy with their physiques and will still hold distorted images of themselves even if they look fine to others. Indiana University of Pennsylvania found 1 in 5 teen males considered by their peers to be “in shape” still admitted being uncomfortable taking their shirts off in front of others.
Teenage boy’s body image issues predominately lie in three areas.
90% of teen boys who exercise do so with the sole goal of adding mass and building muscle.
Dr. Alison Field summarized the current focus of the male physique: “There are some males who do want to be thinner and are focused on thinness, but many more are focused on wanting bigger, or at least more toned and defined, muscles.”
Muscle dysmorphia is a pathological obsession with muscle building and extreme focus on food choices. It is also called “bigorexia” or “reverse anorexia.” This condition leads to a fixation on gaining body mass.
Teen males suffering from muscle dysmorphia put their lives on hold to exclusively develop their “perfect body.” This leads to countless hours in the gym, spending large amounts of money on supplements, and unusual eating patterns.
Teen boys who feel unable to achieve an already unattainable physique may use extreme measures such as steroids or supplements.
Over 50% of males with muscle dysmorphia abuse steroids. Steroids and supplements are attractive to teen boys when they fail to build an unobtainable physique.
Injectable steroids are a dangerous way to enhance muscle, along with “natural” protein powders and supplements as well. Many protein powders and supplements are unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They may contain unhealthy ingredients and may cause unappealing side effects.
Some teen males would make a huge sacrifice for a perfect body.
The lengths at which males are willing to go to reach their “ideal” surprised Dr. Alison Field:
“You want people to be concerned enough about their weight to make healthy decisions, but not so concerned that they’re willing to take whatever means it takes, healthy or unhealthy, to achieve their desired physique.”
Adding muscle bulk is not the only body issue concerning young males. Male eating disorders are rising as they grow more obsessed about having a lean body.
31% of male teens reported binge eating, purging, or overeating. Additionally:
Eating disorders can turn fatal. Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of all mental health disorders at 20%. Bulimia can lead to suicide.
Unfortunately, only 10% of individuals with an eating disorder receive treatment. Eating disorders come with a strong feeling of shame, often preventing open conversations. Two commonly believed fallacies prevent men from seeking help for eating disorders:
1. SOCIAL MEDIA
A joint study by Today & AOL found:
2. PEER PRESSURE
The pressure to fit in as a teenager also causes male body image issues. Teen males reach physical maturation at different rates. Seeing friends or classmates increase strength and muscle mass can cause insecurities or self-consciousness for those who haven’t reached physical maturation. Additionally:
3. ACTION FIGURE TOYS
Simple toys like action figures create insecurities in certain teen males as well. These dolls feature chiseled abdominal muscles and nearly impossible pectoral muscles. Only 1 to 2% of the male population is capable of developing the body type of today’s action figures.
4. MOVIES AND MAGAZINES
Movies and magazines have also begun displaying more bare-chested men, six-pack abs, and chiseled physiques. The movie 300 may come to mind, or even the scene in Captain America where Steve Rodgers, a scrawny, thin male character, enters experimental treatment and leaves as a buff hero. This gives teens the impression that the only true heroes are the people bigger and stronger than everyone else.
Dr. Raymond Lemberg summed up the media’s added focus on strength and the male body:
“The media has become more of an equal opportunity discriminator. Men’s bodies are not good enough anymore either.”
Negative body image often brings low self-esteem, but other issues also appear. Negative body image may cause:
Males seek treatment less often for eating disorders because of the perception that they’re suffering from a “woman’s disease.” However, it doesn’t mean they don’t experience body image issues, anxiety, and stress about their appearance.
Dr. Alison Field said: “Pediatricians and adolescent medicine doctors and parents need to become aware that they should be listening as much to their sons’ conversations about weight as their daughters.”
Teen males may display these warning signs:
If you are worried your teen might suffer from body image issues and insecurities, consider these approaches:
While we’re all familiar with the body image pressures the media places on girls, males experience body image issues as well. Media portrayals of the ideal body, peer pressure, and an obsession with size and bulk create body image issues. Teen males will try extreme methods to obtain an ideal physique. Recognizing a teen might be experiencing body image issues can prevent future issues and help them grow and become more comfortable and confident with the own unique and incredible person they are.