Brief Report

The media's representation of the ideal male body: A cause for muscle dysmorphia?

  1. Richard A. Leit1,*,
  2. James J. Gray2,
  3. Harrison G. Pope Jr.3,4

Article first published online: 14 MAR 2002

DOI: 10.1002/eat.10019

Issue

International Journal of Eating Disorders

International Journal of Eating Disorders

Volume 31, Issue 3, pages 334–338, April 2002

Additional Information

How to Cite

Leit, R. A., Gray, J. J. and Pope, H. G. (2002), The media's representation of the ideal male body: A cause for muscle dysmorphia?. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 31: 334–338. doi: 10.1002/eat.10019

Author Information

  1. 1

    Staten Island Mental Health Society, Staten Island, New York

  2. 2

    Department of Psychology, American University, Washington, DC

  3. 3

    Biological Psychiatry Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts

  4. 4

    Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

*Staten Island Mental Health Society, 669 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301. Dr. Leit was at the Department of Psychology of America, University when this research was conducted.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 14 MAR 2002
  2. Article first published online: 14 MAR 2002
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 14 FEB 2001

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Keywords:

  • media images men's attitudes;
  • body image perception

Abstract

Objective

This study sought to examine the effects of media images on men's attitudes toward their body appearance.

Method

A group of college men viewed advertisements showing muscular men, whereas a control group viewed neutral advertisements. Immediately thereafter, participants performed a computerized test of body image perception while unaware of the hypotheses being tested in the study.

Results

The students exposed to the muscular images showed a significantly greater discrepancy between their own perceived muscularity and the level of muscularity that they ideally wanted to have.

Discussion

These findings suggest that media images, even in a brief presentation, can affect men's views of their bodies. © 2002 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 31: 334–338, 2002; DOI 10.1002/eat.10019

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