Body image is something that is often thought of as a “female issue,” and while it deeply affects many who identify as female, it affects all of us across the age and gender spectrum.
In an admittedly broad and gendered generalization (bear with us), those who identify as female generally feel societal pressure to be smaller, have smooth skin, or have an ageless appearance, while those who identify as male struggle with unrealistic physique, muscle size and tone, and other masculine traits. Muscle dysmorphia or often referred to as “bigorexia” is an obsessive desire to have a bigger or more muscular body. Many people, regardless of gender, struggle with body images issues that may encompass one or more of these generalizations.
Here are some statistics of the current state of male body dissatisfaction:
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30-40% of those who identify as male are anxious about their weight
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90% of teen boys exercise solely for the goal of bulking up
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78% of teens are unhappy with their bodies
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10% of male gym members struggle with muscle dysmorphia
No matter your gender identity, body image impacts all of us, and having a negative body image generally results in increased rates of:
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Substance use
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Disordered eating or eating disorders
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Compulsive exercise or exercise addiction
Body image and our relationship with self impacts every aspect of our lives from our internal self talk, how we view and see others, how we eat, how we move, and our self esteem. This is why at EVOLVE we don’t believe in using exercise as a “tool” to change our bodies, we believe it is a tool for community, injury prevention, mental and overall health, improving quality of life, and so much more. Using exercise or movement as a tool to change our aesthetic is a slippery slope that incentivizes us to move in ways that are less enjoyable, honestly cheapens the power of exercise overall.
The other day when I (Abby) was coaching I asked the class why they move. Here are some of their answers:
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To keep up with my kids
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For my mental health (Note: we love this, but we must also note exercise is not therapy, but a tool to help us regulate, be in community, and find a deeper connection of embodiment.)
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Mental clarity and focus
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To be able to enjoy everything else I love
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Gratitude: movement is a way that I show my body gratitude and inturn am grateful for what it can do
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Injury prevention
As you can see, movement is important for so many reasons and if you are struggling with your relationship with your body, food, or masculinity, you’re note alone. Here are a few great resources for you:
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Book a dietitian session with Abby
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Drop in the next Body Respect Group from the Body Inclusive Collective: meeting next Thursday at 7:00 PM on Zoom. Click here to RSVP.
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Join the Reframing Masculinity group with coach and therapist, John Bridger. Follow @fitnessforallbodies for more details.
