Inside the rising ‘muscle dysmorphia crisis’ among young men
Inside the rising ‘muscle dysmorphia crisis’ among young men
Defined as a preoccupation with one’s perceived lack of muscularity, muscle dysmorphia is becoming increasingly prevalent, causing what experts are calling a ‘silent crisis’ in men’s mental health
Defined as a preoccupation with one’s perceived lack of muscularity, muscle dysmorphia is becoming increasingly prevalent, causing what experts are calling a ‘silent crisis’ in men’s mental health
I know exactly what this feels like.
I either get to enjoy eating and life in general, but feel like my body isn't big and muscular enough to feel like a confident man or work out all the time but stop eating what makes me happy and in general not enjoy meals.
Media constantly espouses body positivity for women, but men are either ripped or obese. There's no normal, and it makes men feel like they're not good enough.
Body positivity has been ignoring men for way too long.
Embrace dad bod, brother.
Dad bod doesn't necessarily mean overweight with a beer gut. But it does mean that you don't have time to go to the gym to be sculpted for aesthetics. Still plenty of strength and masculinity in it, however.
[off topic?]
I was watching 'The Getaway' with Steve McQueen a few weeks ago. At the time the movie was made, Steve was one of Hollywood's top action heroes. When he took his shirt off I thought how skinny he looked. I know that the Marvel heroes work out for months to get the 'superhero' body, but I still made the comparison.
Another story I heard. A friend of mine wanted to buy his nephew the same Luke Skywalker action figure he'd played with as a child. The original toy looked like a skinny farm boy, and the new one had Luke looking like a body builder.
The lengths they go to today are insane. Like, on top of sort of obsessive body building they're also dehydrating themselves before the bare chest scene for extra definition or some shit. Seems unhealthy all around.
Not to mention the steroids they take while claiming they're natural.
Manatomy Podcast comes to mind when reading this.
At first glance the example of Men's Health magazine doesn't seem to have changed over the years which is sad.
I can see that. The strongest people I know don't look like bodybuilders. There is anexpectations of beauty in it.
Yeah world record powerlifters have the longshoreman body type not the bodybuilder body type. But that’s also not a healthy body expectation. Reasonably fit is what the standard body expectations should be for most people.
Potentially stupid question, but what's the difference between muscle dysmorphia and regular body dysmorphia?
Muscle dysmorphia is just a more specific term. Disordered perception of muscle mass, as opposed to more general body size/shape.
Do they even lift, bro?
But seriously these guys need to just pay attention to women if that's what they want the muscles about. Women are not out there just drooling over muscles all the time, they mostly want a generally fit body, maybe abs and stuff. Big muscly bodybuilders are probably going to attract more gays than women.
I've seen a meme that included Henry Cavill as the Witcher as someone who is not muscular, so the unrealistic expectation is there.
For example, compare these two cover photos of Hugh Jackman. The one for women is not the one with a shirtless man and rippling muscles
That comment is incredibly high on the Sapho and her Friend scale.
Of course hypermuscular comic book characters and a ripped Hugh Jackman aren't just male power fantasies. They're also men being objectified for men.
How can someone be so oblivious about how blatantly homoerotic comics and some of these 'fitness' magazines are?
Different people have different tastes. I know people both men and women who have learned not to be into the bodybuilder physique because while they think it looks good they don’t like dating people who live the lifestyle it requires. They also complain about how it isn’t as nice to cuddle. Now, gay/bi men are more likely to be into living that lifestyle than straight/bi women.
But from what I’ve heard it’s a body type largely idealized not in a sexual way, but in a self insert way. It looks powerful, and has become a cultural ideal. In part because it’s the optimization of the appearance of strength.
Most people want someone reasonably attractive that can share their lifestyle to a reasonable degree. Beyond that, social skills and improving grooming will improve your chances far more than more time in the gym unless you enjoy it want want a partner who’s into exercise too.