KEY POINTS:
It has long been assumed that only women fret about body image.
Not so, says psychologist Dr Vivien Lewis.
Men are just as likely to experience negative body image. The big difference is they are much less likely to seek help.
Dr Lewis, of the University of Canberra, said: "Men often worry about their bodies in secret and think it's sissy or a sign of weakness if they talk about their concerns."
A team of male students, led by Dr Lewis, are preparing for a series of body image workshops specifically targeting men to try and teach them how to feel good about their bodies.
They will be based on last year's successful series of workshops focusing on women.
The aim will be to equip men with the basic skills to cope with negative feelings associated with body image.
They will instruct on how to exercise for health not looks and provide eating tips and skills to deal with unobtainable body images.
"Last year we found that the programme helped people feel more satisfied about their bodies, decreased potentially dangerous behaviour they may be engaging in and made people feel more confident about their bodies," said Dr Lewis.
Shane Greentree, a masters student involved in the workshops, said the image of the "ideal" male as portrayed in the media was unattainable for most men.
And the pressure to conform was a serious health hazard.
"Men, like women, engage in self-destructive behaviour such as dieting and excessive exercise or muscle building at the gym," he said.
"Some men use dangerous methods such as diet pills or muscle-enhancing drugs, and spend large amounts of money on trying to change their bodies.
"This can stop men going out with friends, make them feel down and anxious around women."
Dr Lewis said body image was an issue with 60 per cent of women and adversely affected 40 per cent of men.
Extreme reactions to body image, like eating disorders, affect about 1 per cent of the population.
TIPS TO FEEL GOOD
* Exercise for health and fitness rather than for looks.
* Listen to positive comments.
* Treat your body with respect, eat well, get enough sleep and try to reduce your stress.
* Try to focus on your successes.
* Get informed by reading about body image for men.
-AAP
