When Looks Can Be Deceiving: Understanding Male Body Image

Trigger Warning: This story contains mentions of depression, insomnia, Body Dysmorphia, disordered eating, drug use, and exercise addiction.

In 2020, a scene from actor Zac Efron’s Netflix travel show ‘Down to Earth’ went viral, sparking intense discussions about body image issues and eating disorders.

In the clip, Efron appears visibly emotional as he eats pasta, saying “I’m so happy that I’m eating carbs again… I went years without eating carbs again… when I shot Baywatch, I didn’t have a carb for like six months, I almost lost my mind,”.

Years later, Efron detailed to Men’s Health magazine how the extreme dieting and exercise undertaken to prepare for the role led to the development of insomnia and depression.

While many people are aware of the beauty and body image ideals women and girls are subject to, knowledge of how males struggle with body image is rarely discussed.

Male body image issues manifest themselves in ways that can confound family and friends who may be unaware of the type of disordered behaviours to look out for.

EXTREME BEHAVIOURS SKYROCKETING

Caption: Men are increasingly trying to fight appearance-based expectations (Photo Credit: Eliza Marlow).

Struggles with body image are more common than most people realise, with research suggesting more than half of boys aged 12-18 wish to alter their body in some way.

It’s estimated up to 85% of men are dissatisfied with their muscularity, while between 30% and 40% of men are anxious about weight.

Negative body image behaviours in men can often be deceptive, largely because they don't match people's expectations for an individual struggling with their appearance.

Madeline West from Monash University’s Body Image and Eating Disorders Research Group says negative body image and eating disorder related behaviours are often understood within the context of how they impact women and girls.

“In men they might be striving for a really muscular body type which might mean that they’re engaging in really high rates of exercise, there might be steroid use, and I guess disordered eating around trying to reduce the body fat percentage."

According to the Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey, non-prescription steroid use almost tripled between 2001 and 2019.

Performance enhancing drugs like steroids can cause heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and mental health problems.

Steroid use is also associated with increased fertility issues in men.

Altogether, a rise in these concerning behaviours has coincided with the increasing prevalence of Muscle Dysmorphia, a subtype of Body Dysmorphic Disorder that sees individuals develop an obsessive belief their body isn’t muscular or toned enough.

A 2021 study from Western Sydney University found that the prevalence of Muscle Dysmorphia in young people was higher than other well-known body image related disorders including Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa.

Developing research suggests Muscle Dysmorphia is present in men and women, though it is thought to be more prevalent in males.

Beyond physical and mental distress, Muscle Dysmorphia can cause people to withdraw from relationships and work as they obsess over maintaining their strict regime.

But this commitment to exercise and dieting can, at first glance, seem like ‘healthy’ behaviours, making it difficult to identify when someone needs help.

WHAT’S CAUSING THE RISE?

Just as ideas of beauty have shifted over time, so too have ideas of masculinity.

Where women are expected to be thin, men are increasingly expected to be lean and toned.

Dr Jessica Lee from Griffith University’s School of Public Health says boys and men of today are contending with an increasing emphasis on their body shape and appearance.

These days, “a masculine man does care about what he looks like and showing off his muscles and how his hair looks and cooking a healthy meal and putting it on Instagram,” Dr Lee said.

Dr Lee says when notions of health are focused on body shape or BMI, men can use concerning methods to achieve certain looks.

“The natural go to isn’t necessarily healthy exercise and healthy eating, it’s actually very restricted diets or meal replacements, and overexercising, steroid use…

“That’s one of the byproducts of focusing on what a body looks like to be healthy rather than just the behaviours that are required to achieve health,” Dr Lee said.

INFLUENCE OF GYM CULTURE

Caption: Exercise can be freeing to some and all consuming to others (Photo Credit: Eliza Marlow).

Personal trainer, Savana Kelly, says her experience with male clients has shown men often compare themselves to others.

Men often wonder “why can’t I look like him, he’s jacked, he’s got a six pack, why are his biceps bigger than mine, like it is definitely something that I think is way more prevalent than anyone actually realises,” she said.

Ms Kelly says it’s common to hear men discussing whether they should use steroids to achieve their desired physique, particularly when they become frustrated with their inability to reach these goals naturally.

She says some men are motivated by a desire to meet women’s expectations, creating “toxic competition” between males who are often trying to “outdo” each other.

Ms Kelly says gym culture can vary dramatically and people’s experience can depend on who they surround themselves with.

“I definitely think it comes down to the environment that you put yourself into."

Ms Kelly says her experience has shown that some gyms are highly physique and appearance oriented, discouraging people from attending these establishments, while performance-based gyms have more positive cultures.

“Everyone’s there to feel healthy, get stronger, and it’s a much more positive environment in the sense of body image,” she said.

FITNESS INDUSTRY RESPONDS TO CONCERNS

AUSactive is Australia’s peak body for exercise and active health professionals.

In a statement provided to The Source News, the organisation expressed their concern regarding behaviours present within the industry that are linked to negative health outcomes.

“This includes the use of performance and image enhancing drugs, as well as overexercising."

AUSactive says education is key to improving public understanding of body image.

“There are a range of factors that contribute to these behaviours including but not limited to; social media, societal expectations, cultural and childhood experiences."

Ultimately, those in the fitness industry operate at ground zero and are invaluable in potentially identifying concerning behaviours and encouraging positive engagement with diet and exercise.

While stigma surrounding the discussion of men's mental health remains pervasive, it's important to check in on friends and family regularly.