An Overlooked Struggle for Men: The Prevalence and Effect of Body Dysmorphia

When most people think of eating disorders and body dysmorphia, an image of sickly thin, skinny women is created. It’s the stereotypical “look” for someone who is suffering. While these disorders are more commonly talked about in regards to women, the prevalence of them in men is becoming increasingly more recognized.

If you aren’t familiar with what body dysmorphia is, it’s basically your brain creating a skewed or distorted image of the way you look. You could be the most fit and healthy person, but your brain is only focused on the littlest flaws, making them seem so much worse in your eyes. A lot of people struggle with body dysmorphia, and it is most commonly thought about in regards to women not feeling skinny enough when they look in the mirror. While it is a huge struggle for women, the struggle of body dysmorphia in men goes more unnoticed. To get further insight into the struggles men have when it comes to their bodies, I talked to a 17-year-old boy about his perspective on body dysmorphia regarding him and his peers.

I asked him to talk about what body dysmorphia looks and feels like for teenage boys and the effect peers and social media have on them. A big part of where body dysmorphia stems from for him and other boys his age is their efforts to look a certain way for other people, especially people they are attracted to. It is common for women to create this image of an ideal, perfect man who has big muscles, a six-pack, is over 6 feet tall, etc. When a guy doesn’t check all of those boxes, it is easy for him to get made fun of or looked down upon; it’s easy for people to pick apart and point out their every flaw. People can be so quick to brush over the fact that guys constantly compare themselves to these unrealistic standards set by society and social media. Just like everyone else, they spend much of their time scrolling through social media and falling into this “mind-consuming trap of how they should be looking and acting.” Their media is filled with shirtless guys flexing their muscles in front of a mirror, which is enough to make anyone feel bad about the way they look or compare themselves to that person, but for someone with body dysmorphia, it's like pouring salt on an open wound. Guys have created this gym culture for themselves, and we at The Edge can recognize that exercise is an important part of keeping your body healthy. But when it becomes an obsession - like lifting weights for hours on end to achieve some unattainable physique - that's when it becomes a problem. 

While girls also struggle with similar issues when it comes to trying to achieve this perfect look, it isn’t as accepted for men to talk about it as it might be for girls. Some may think men aren’t supposed to be vulnerable, they are supposed to be strong leaders, always in control. Many men have learned to suppress their insecurities in fear of showing this vulnerability and opening up to someone about what they are struggling with. It’s easy for people to say “be confident in your own skin” or “be proud of who you are,” but it can’t be denied that there are special bonuses or rewards for people who fit into society's expectations and work to be a version of themselves that everyone else around them is trying to convince them they should be. 

There is light at the end of the tunnel, though. While body dysmorphia in men is a topic that in the past has gone overlooked, it’s starting to grow more awareness in the media and in everyday conversation. As cliche as it might sound, you aren’t alone in the way you feel. While it takes a lot of courage, it’s important to confide in people you trust and make sure your voice is heard, because your feelings are valid. Times are changing and as a society, we are slowly challenging these outdated standards that have been engraved in our brains. Nobody is perfect, so why expect yourself to be?