For decades, people have ignored or disregarded male body image issues, but studies indicate that a large number of men endure their body image issues in solitude. An Australian health report published recently shows that the proportion of men who say they are not satisfied with their bodies has increased in 25 years, rising to 45% from 15% initially (NIB, n.d.). To say this differently, almost half of contemporary men express dissatisfaction with something concerning their bodies.
Men are portrayed by society as strong and hard. Though there is relative silence in society about the fact that men are now under pressure to appear as they should. Such a strict system has brought a lot of inconvenience to a gender, such as females. Society faces several challenges, which form a bias against people of all genders.
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Societal Pressure and the “Ideal” Male Body
Society’s image of the “ideal” man often means tall, muscular, and lean. Psychologist Elliot Sklar (2015) warns that as these ideals grow more extreme, the gap between most men’s bodies and the ideal widens too. In other words, as the standard climbs higher, more men feel they fall short. Sklar also points out a key difference: men are discouraged from talking about these insecurities, even though they affect their self-concept (Sklar, 2015).
Whereas women have long been allowed (and even expected) to discuss diet and body image, men are often told to “tough it out.” This rigid masculinity norm, emphasising self-reliance and emotional control which creates a “silence” around male body anxiety. As one review notes, men raised under these norms may keep fears about their weight or muscles bottled up, which only compounds anxiety and leads to unhealthy coping behaviours (Sklar, 2015).
Although historically marketing for gym memberships, supplements and fad diets targeted women, modern media increasingly push products to men too. Men’s magazines and ads now sell sculpted physiques and “six-pack” abs, suggesting real bodies aren’t good enough. As culture writer Jennifer Mills observes, “the average man is comparing himself to a hyper-muscular, very lean body type”, an ideal so rare it makes most guys feel inadequate (Khan, 2022).
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The Invisible Toll on Self-Esteem
This constant pressure can seriously undermine self-esteem. Today’s social media-saturated world bombards users with edited images of perfect bodies, and research shows this has a harmful effect. A 2024 review by Merino et al. finds that exposure to idealised images on platforms like Instagram and Facebook tends to create “increased dissatisfaction and psychological distress” (Merino et al., 2024).
In practical terms, men who endlessly scroll through pictures of ripped models often feel worse about their own appearance. One experimental study supports this: young men who viewed muscular figures on Instagram reported immediately lower satisfaction with their overall look and body weight (Khan, 2022).
Confidence is eroded with dissatisfaction. Men who have a negative body image tend to internalise that they are somehow inferior. According to Allina Health, one of the medical sources, the condition of chronic unsatisfaction with the body in men may result in anxiety, depression and personal worthlessness (Allina Health, 2021). Concisely, the mental health of men is connected with their secret insecurities.
The low regard can spiral down to social withdrawal. Or only get irritable. But most men keep quiet about the issues. Thinking that they are not supposed to be concerned about their appearance. The consequence of this silence is that there are no problems addressed: compared to women, men are even less likely to seek help or counselling to address an issue with body image, despite experiencing the same feeling of shame, of depression (Allina Health, 2021).
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Social Media and Comparison Culture
One big driver of these issues is social comparison. Festinger’s classic social comparison theory tells us people gauge themselves by comparing themselves to others. Today, social media supercharges that process. Merino et al. note that digital platforms create a “culture of social comparison” by showcasing ideal bodies around the clock (Merino et al., 2024). Every time a man opens a fitness Instagram or even a dating app, he may be up against dozens of sculpted physiques. Even casually flipping through images can trigger the “upward comparison” that makes one feel inadequate.
For example, a 2020 study cited by Global News found that men who saw photos of muscular men on Instagram reported more social comparison and lower satisfaction than those who saw neutral images (Khan, 2022). In real-life terms, watching a friend’s gym selfie or a celebrity’s shirtless photo can prompt the subconscious question, “Am I that fit?” Almost certainly, most men will answer “no,” and that breeds anxiety.
According to Mills, many young men come to feel “there’s this unrealistic expectation of having this six pack, washboard abs,” and they end up unhappy that they don’t match the ideal (Khan, 2022). Because these images are so pervasive and manipulated, every man’s self-image takes a hit.
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Body Dysmorphia and Extreme Behaviours
In other situations, such insecurities develop into clinical conditions. Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a type of anxiety disorder in which the sufferer has an entrenched belief that they are ugly or disfigured. More importantly, men tend to have a muscle version of the condition known as muscle dysmorphia. Muscle dysmorphia (alternatively known as bigorexia) develops when a man is obsessed with the thought that he is not muscular enough. Even though he is already very lean. This obsession may take up thoughts and actions.
In a recent mega-analysis, researchers observed that 2.8% of adolescent boys and young men in North America fulfilled the probable criteria of muscle dysmorphia (Ganson et al., 2025). That might not sound like a high number. However, it is much higher than it was anticipated by many experts. And shows that this issue is not exponentially bad.
When muscle dysmorphia takes hold, it can drive dangerous behaviours. Men with this disorder often follow extreme regimens, hours of weightlifting, very strict diets, and incessant mirror-checking, to reach an impossible standard. They may also turn to performance-enhancing substances. As Mills warns, the hyper-focus on body parts “could lead to really risky behaviours like steroid use, because they feel like no matter what they do, their body isn’t good enough” (Khan, 2022). Even aside from BDD, many men with body dissatisfaction adopt unhealthy habits.
According to Allina Health, in this case, men can develop a disordered eating or compulsive exercising behaviour to do anything to alter their look (Allina Health, 2021). Perhaps, in a way, low self-esteem regarding appearance can be a vicious circle. The concern makes one take extreme measures. Which, in certain instances, end up making issues (such as injuries or eating issues) more severe.
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Conclusion
The positive sign is that these trends are becoming acknowledged, and specialists state that it is time to stop the silence. Harmful thoughts can be interrupted by talking openly about body image. Allina Health says that the first step in a more positive body image is open and honest (Allina Health, 2021). In reality, this means that a man should be capable of sharing his emotions with feelings to a friend, relatives or counsellors. And know that it is not a sign of weakness. Most therapists currently observe that people who speak out about the issue of appearance are acting bravely. That can enhance self-esteem.
Revising the “rigid system” of masculine norms is also part of the solution. Society as a whole, from media producers to parents, needs to present a more inclusive view of male bodies. Body positivity campaigns are moving street over to men and in advertising images of different shapes and sizes. In the meantime, psychologists prompt men to ask critical questions about unrealistic images that they perceive. Keep in mind that people manipulate most online pictures or take them in ideal conditions. Few real males can look like the industry standard behind a magazine cover all the time.
Ultimately, the most important thing to learn is that there is not only the problem of women having body image issues. As the experts point out, keeping to impossible ideals in silence. Men suffer a severe blow to their self-esteem and mental health (Merino et al., 2024; Allina Health, 2021). Discussing these pressures and helping each other. Men will be able to limit the shame. And begin to reinvent themselves as good in their skin. The norms that are healthier will make everyone of any gender feel good about themselves. And accept that there are other forms of norms. Not just one body type.
References +
Allina Health. (2021, December 3). Understand the truth about negative body image in men. Allina Health. https://www.allinahealth.org/healthysetgo/thrive/male-body image-issues
Ganson, K. T., Mitchison, D., Rodgers, R. F., Murray, S. B., Testa, A., & Nagata, J. M. (2025). Prevalence and correlates of muscle dysmorphia in a sample of boys and men in Canada and the United States. Journal of Eating Disorders, 13, 47. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-025-01233-x
Khan, A. (2022, March 26). How these men are overcoming social media-fuelled body image, mental health challenges. Global News.
https://globalnews.ca/news/8468688/men-body-image-socia-media/
Merino, M., Tornero-Aguilera, J. F., Rubio-Zarapuz, A., Villanueva-Tobaldo, C. V., Martín-Rodríguez, A., & Clemente-Suárez, V. J. (2024). Body perceptions and psychological well-being: A review of the impact of social media and physical measurements on self-esteem and mental health with a focus on body image satisfaction and its relationship with cultural and gender factors. Healthcare (Basel), 12(14), 1396. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12141396nib. (n.d.).
Men: 5 things about your body that are completely normal. nib: The Check Up. https://www.nib.com.au/the-checkup/everyday-health/general-health guides-and-faqs/5-things-about-mens-bodies-that-are-completely-normal
Sklar, E. M. (2015). Body image, weight, and self-concept in men. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 11(3), 252–258. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827615594351
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