This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A teenage boy goes to the gym several times a week. He takes protein powder and watches what he eats carefully.
He talks about being "ripped" or "jacked." Is this a sign of a young person developing healthy, disciplined habits? Or has it turned into an unhealthy focus on his appearance? How can parents tell the difference between a boy who loves to train and is happy and one who can't stop and has unhealthy feelings about his body?
It's common for boys and young men to use the gym to lift weights while still in school. While this is not new, social media has increased pressure on young people to conform to certain bodily ideals. For boys, that often means a lean body with large, sharply defined muscles.
A lot of body image advice for parents focuses on girls. But boys can still succumb to body image concerns or body dysmorphia. In boys, the warning signs of an unhealthy focus on the body can take longer to recognize due to a broader societal acceptance of boys and men aiming to build their muscles.
Body image issues in boys are more common than many people realize. The best Australian evidence comes from a 2021 study, which surveyed more than 3,600 teenagers. This study found 2.2% of boys met the criteria for muscle dysmorphia.
This finding came several years before the modern trend of "looksmaxxing" went mainstream, so the percentage may be even higher today. Muscle dysmorphia is a form of body dysmorphia in which a person becomes preoccupied with the belief they are not muscular enough, to the point that it disrupts their life or causes distress. Research suggests muscle building does not just involve extreme exercise.
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