Body image is a topic that many fear talking about. In today's society, we are constantly seeing images of what the ideal woman or man is supposed to look like. There are constant discussions on how body image affects women in today's society, but no one ever talks about the effects it has on men.
Ever since I can remember I have experienced body image issues. As a teen, I would look in the mirror and point out all the things that are wrong with my body. The lack of abs, the scrawniness of my torso, my double chin and anything else I could point out at the time. My idea of a man was depicted from the images I saw on television and social media. None of those guys were scrawny, missing abs or anything. In my eyes they were perfect, and the men that I inspired to look like.
What people don't tell you is that body image affects many things in our lives, from how we see ourselves, how we interact with others, and most importantly our mental health. While these habits start when we are children, they continue to grow as we get older and experience more things.
With the increased level of stress this causes, men often times will develop eating disorders. The Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness states that between 2.4-3.6 million men suffer from eating disorders in America. Back in college, there were times where I would skip meals, or eat less because there was a fear of gaining weight and not looking my best. No matter what anyone tells you, when you are experiencing body image issues, you are your own worse critic. People will tell you that you look great and don't need to change a thing, but your mind tells you something different.
As men, it's important to stand up and start talking about the issues that affect us. While social media is a great way of communicating and staying in touch with your friends and family. It's also a negative tool when it comes to the projection of what a man should look like. The truth is, some men will be more physically fit and some men won't, but that doesn't mean that one is better than the other. We are all different and unique, that's what makes us who we are.
As I've grown older, I've learned to love my body and understand that I won't ever look like a GQ model and that's okay. Life isn't about being perfect, it's about being yourself and embracing the imperfections you have. If you can do that, then you're already a step ahead of the rest.
While body image is a conversation mostly geared towards women, it's time to change the conversation to understand that body image doesn't see gender.
