On occasion we all feel anxious or low due to our image, but why? Many believe it is due to pressure from the media who share images of body ideals which can leave us with unrealistic expectations of our own physique.
In fact, according to a survey run by the Mental Health Foundation in 2019, 69% of 4,505 adults felt either anxious or depressed about their body image.
Whilst a YouGov survey revealed that 31% of men surveyed said they’re not happy with their body shape.
Chemist Click noticed there is a need to highlight the fact that men are also subject to ‘body shaming’ and point out that this is not a new revelation.
This has been the case for decades and according to Chemist Click’s research this dates back to ancient Greece. Back then the male ideal body type was based on the mythical stories of the time that focused on Greek gods.
Nowadays we find men under pressure from social media with many fitness enthusiasts and unrealistic body shapes gaining a lot of attention. However, social media can also help you achieve body confidence, all you have to do is identify influencers with the same goals as you and not take social media too seriously.
One such body ideal that has received a lot of attention lately is the dad bod! This is viewed as a more positive body ideal, but can still cause frustration as there is no one size fits all.
The issues with body shaming do not stop there, these male ideals continue to enter our lives every day and it is all of our jobs to get the message out that there is no typical man. If you have anything to add to this conversation then you can join using the hashtag #NoTypicalMan
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