|
2006/08/16, 08:12 AM
The following article can be percieved in two ways: the pressure men feel to 'look good' or the author's boyfriend works out and she feels left out. I, for one, train for me and me alone. I don't care a whole lot about what other people think. Most folks on this site are not obsessed with their self image; we are dedicated to health. Anyway, here's the article:
Men Muscle in on Body Image Problems
By Sara Goudarzi
15 August 2006
For decades, women with perfect bodies have adorned the covers of fashion magazines and created an ideal that teenage girls aspired to. The obsession with the flawless body has recently crossed genders, causing men to suffer from eating disorders, consider steroid use and to have unhealthy obsessions with weightlifting, new research suggests.
"Men see these idealized, muscular men in the media and feel their own bodies don't measure up," said Tracy Tylka, the lead researcher and assistant professor of psychology at Ohio State University.
Reviewing previous studies, Tylka "found that media images of men in action toys, Playgirl centerfolds, etc., have become increasingly muscular over the last 25-30 years."
The effect was apparent when Tylka surveyed 285 college men to find out how much pressure they were under to have a muscular physique.
The more the surveyed men felt under pressure through media, friends, and family, the more they were compelled to live up to the ideals, Tylka reported Aug. 10 at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association.
"They start to believe that the only attractive male body is a muscular one," Tylka said. "And when they internalize that belief, they judge themselves on that ideal and probably come up short, because it is not a realistic portrayal of men."
Those who felt their bodies didn't measure up to the ideal reported that they worked out so much that weight training interfered with other parts of their lives. They also took protein supplements, were likely to report eating disorder symptoms, and thought about using steroids to enhance muscle growth.
"It is good to exercise, to lift weights, and to eat the foods that make your body function well," Tylka said. But it is not good to be preoccupied with working out just to bulk up, she said. These men were not eating healthy, but cutting out major food groups like carbohydrates and consuming massive amounts of protein.
"Instead of seeing a decrease in objectification of women in society, there has just been an increase in the objectification of men. And you can see that in the media today."
--------------
--JBennett
"I've up-ed my intensity.... now up yours!"
"Pain is only weakness leaving the body."
"Never think of how weak you are; think of how strong you're going to be."
|
|
2006/08/16, 09:35 AM
============
Quoting from jbennett:
"Men see these idealized, muscular men in the media and feel their own bodies don't measure up," said Tracy Tylka, the lead researcher and assistant professor of psychology at Ohio State University.
=============
Not to sound insensitive, but from what I have seen of the bodies at Ohio State, they don't...
I tend to see quite the opposite end of the spectrum. Rather than becoming more muscular and in shape, men are leading the growing trend towards obesity.
You can tell that the obesity epidemic is taking over when exercise is becoming a "preoccupation" and is marked with such a negative connotation. Rather than working to overcome the fact that this country is rapidly falling out of shape, the ideal is meant to accomidate.
As for men becoming increasingly muscular in magazines, etc, we know SO much more about exercise and fitness than we did 20 years ago, that with the proper plan, it is remarkably easier to develop the body than it was 20 years ago. Look at the natural bodybuilders of today and those of 20 years ago.
--------------
Iron and chalk.
|
