Young men struggle with body image and an obsession with 'bulking up'
WRAL • • health
Key Points:
- Tate Mannell, a UNC Chapel Hill sophomore, developed an intense focus on gaining muscle and protein intake from age 14, driven by negative body image linked to sports experiences and peer teasing.
- Muscle dysmorphia, or bigorexia, is a body dysmorphic disorder where individuals feel insufficiently muscular regardless of actual size; it affects many males but is often overlooked due to stereotypes about eating disorders being primarily female issues.
- Research indicates nearly a third of U.S. teen boys try to gain weight, with some resorting to supplements or steroids, yet stigma and bias make men less likely to seek diagnosis or treatment for eating disorders.
- Experts emphasize that exercise can be healthy if motivated by enjoyment and well-being rather than obsession with body change, and that social support and community, like UNC’s Embody Carolina, are crucial in combating isolation linked to these disorders.
- Mannell’s transition to college and a shift in social values helped reduce his body image obsession, illustrating the importance of environment and mindset in managing muscle dysmorphia and related behaviors.
