Men feel the pressure to aim for muscle-man image

Men are catching up to women in one area. They too are feeling pressure to achieve perfect bodies, and this can lead them down unhealthy paths.

The findings of a new study "challenge that myth that men aren't affected by the media or other's comments towards their bodies", Dr Tracy L. Tylka, at Ohio State University, told Reuters.

"Men are affected by those pressures in the media ... or the pressures that others put on them to look more muscular," she said.

"For some men, this can lead to unhealthy and potentially dangerous behaviours to try to reach that ideal."

Previous research has linked the viewing of women as sexual objects to eating disorders. During the last three decades, however, men had also become increasingly viewed as objects.

One study showed that men who were exposed to ads that included a more muscular male image later expressed more dissatisfaction with their own bodies than those exposed to neutral ads.

"Men see these idealised, muscular men in the media and feel their own bodies don't measure up," Dr Tylka said.

In light of such research, Dr Tylka investigated the relationship between the pressure to become more muscular and certain behaviours. For her study, 285 male university students, mostly freshmen, completed various surveys about the pressure to be muscular and its ramifications.

On a scale that ranged from "never" to "always", participants reported they "often" felt pressure to be muscular, she said. They "often" or "usually" internalised the muscular images presented by the media - i.e. believed that the only desirable shape is the highly muscular body type.

They were also "often" or "usually" dissatisfied about their bodies.

Men who were dissatisfied with their muscularity were likely to be more preoccupied about becoming more muscular, which led to their use of supplements and possibly steroid use, to achieve that muscular image, Dr Tylka said. Dissatisfaction with their level of body fat predicted a higher preoccupation with counting calories and cutting off certain food groups.

Because the idealised muscular body image is rooted in society, with "men thinking they're expected to look a certain way, it can contribute to very negative things for men", Dr Tylka said.

"Instead of pressuring men to be more muscular, [we need to] accept men's bodies for what they are and instead focus on internal characteristics," she said.

"Stop focusing on appearance, for both men and women."

Dr Tylka presented her findings to the American Psychological Association annual meeting in New Orleans.

- REUTERS