Online Workouts: A Window into Men’s Body Image Struggles
When I recently reached out to a range of people about their reasons for sharing workout posts online, I was met with a flood of responses—over a hundred, in fact. Many comments centered on struggles with body image and unrealistic beauty standards. What caught me off guard was that most of the replies came from men.
Consider the meticulous preparation of meals like chicken and rice, the detailed tracking of nutrition, or the guilt from skipping a workout. On social media, these actions often get framed as signs of strength and performance. Yet, the same habits seen as concerning for women—such as rigid dietary restrictions—are often recast for men as “discipline” or “optimization.” It raises a question: how many men quietly wrestle with eating disorders that are often dismissed as a female issue? How many of their struggles go unnoticed when they’re couched in terms like “clean eating” or “serious training”? When disordered eating patterns are reframed as “fitness goals,” many men are left silently grappling with these issues.
Men can Have Eating Disorders, Too
Statistics reveal that boys and men make up around a third of those diagnosed with eating disorders—a figure that likely underrepresents the true extent of the problem. Particularly concerning is muscle dysmorphia, often referred to as “bigorexia,” which involves a compulsive obsession with muscle mass and the belief of being inadequately muscular.
Fitness culture can sometimes enable disordered eating. Terms like “bulking” and “shredding” can disguise unhealthy eating habits. Without assuming a medical role, I can share that I’ve seen the toll when strict caloric restrictions are branded as “cutting,” or excessive exercise is justified as “staying on track.”
Social media amplifies these harmful narratives. Mason Boudrye, who describes himself as “known for posting thirst traps,” opened up about his struggles with always trying to maintain a certain appearance. “Even if people don’t recognize that this obsession with diet and tracking is disordered, I know it is for me,” he shared. Being on social media only heightens these feelings.
As we scroll through endless feeds showcasing improved physiques filtered to appear as natural, we often fall into cycles of increased self-comparison and scrutiny. Matthew Singer, a yoga instructor, points out that most “fitspo” online is about as useful for actual fitness as past lottery winning numbers would be for winning again. These wellness ideals overlook various factors like genetics, personal circumstances, and health history. Our bodies are treated like projects demanding constant correction, lacking important context.
What troubles me most is that many men feel they can’t even name disordered behavior when they see it. There’s a societal misconception about who suffers from eating disorders, compounded by a cultural expectation that men should handle their struggles in solitude. Our cultural narrative equates vulnerability with weakness, which can make it incredibly difficult for men to admit they’re facing issues related to food or body image.
Unattainable Beauty Standards Persist
While terms like “Brotox” might suggest a playful take on Botox for men, they don’t diminish the seriousness of the problem: unattainable beauty standards are pushing men toward increasingly extreme measures. Dr. Claudia Kim of New Look New Life Cosmetic Surgery notes an uptick in men seeking aesthetic treatments like jawline contouring and hair restoration. “These options provide noticeable yet discreet outcomes with minimal downtime,” she explained, aligning with societal pressures that men are now beginning to confront.
But what does this mean for an average person with average means? The procedures discussed—like jawline contouring or hair restoration—aren’t affordable for everyone. Likewise, supplements, meal prep services, and personal trainers can quickly become luxuries. The financial implications mean that class often dictates who’s able to meet these relentless beauty standards. If someone can’t afford to attain the look society pressures them to have, men are left with their struggles, often unspoken.
As a woman, I’ve spent years envying how men age or gain weight without the same societal judgments women face. After hearing many men share their feelings of shame over aesthetic concerns, I’ve grown more empathetic. They often lack the means to express these feelings healthily.
The Bottom Line
There’s a crucial distinction between healthy self-care and the feeling that one’s body is perpetually inadequate. Tracking every single calorie or workout—why is it acceptable for one woman’s evident eating disorder to be perceived as another man’s admirable achievement?
Women have long battled body image challenges and unrealistic beauty standards, but many men haven’t learned how to tackle these issues. The takeaway for me is that we need to unite in this fight. Addressing the complexities of men’s relationships with their bodies requires a more candid discussion. Until we acknowledge the harmful narratives surrounding “discipline” and “cutting,” many men will continue to struggle in silence.
