Effects of Male Body Dissatisfaction

Men that experience body dissatisfaction tend to develop maladaptive behaviors and exhibit the following effects.

Muscle Dysmorphia Male identity has been morphing as men compare the socially constructed formula of the ideal male body to themselves, and develop body dysmorphia. Muscle dysmorphia occurs when the individual is not pleased with the dimension of his body, so they continue to work out excessively. The disorder can develop from an early age of six, and males across age groups usually emphasize dissatisfaction with the chest, shoulders, and stomach.

Substance Abuse Men can resort to substance abuse to achieve their desired results quickly. The use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) is used to accelerate the increase of muscular size, muscle strength, and overall athletic performance, but an enormous amount of users are not athletes.

Eating Disorders The pressure to be lean and tone causes men to develop eating disorders. Men tend to starve themselves to speed the weight loss process to satisfy their desired weight class. Many men continue to partake in their developed disorder without realizing that they have already achieved their preferred weight class.

Low Self-Esteem A man’s self-perception can lead him to have low self-esteem if he perceives his own body as unsatisfactory. An individual’s physique is often under-evaluated, which causes men to exhibit dissatisfied behaviors like the effects aforementioned.

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