The Mix / Mental Health / Body Image and Self-Esteem / Male body image and too much exercise

Male body image and too much exercise

The unrealistic standards put on men and how their bodies should look is not discussed enough. Nor is the mental and physical impact from trying to meet these expectations. Writer Michael Handrick discusses the body pressures men face.

guys on bouncing balls in the gym

Don't exhaust yourself to look a certain way. It's not worth it.

Views 5,820

Next Steps

  • CALM is dedicated to preventing male suicide. Call their national helpline for free on 0800 58 58 58, 5pm-midnight, or visit their webchat service .
  • The Self-Esteem Team (SET) run workshops in schools across the UK to help tackle young people's issues with body image, self-worth and mental health.
  • Chat about this subject on our Discussion Boards.
  • Need help but confused where to go locally? Download our StepFinder iPhone app to find local support services quickly.

Tags:

body image| men's mental health

By Michael Handrick

Updated on 23-Nov-2017

Comments by
A young person is holding a purple brush and a comb. There are flowers around him.
Ambassador voices: A poem about body hair

How do you feel about body hair? Hasan has written ...

Illustration shows a young person looking happy and dancing. Flying around him are scissors, a comb and a razor.
Ambassador voices: Fuck the ‘lockdown glow-up’!

What are the problems with a “lockdown ...

Illustration shows a young person reading in an armchair surrounded by plants. Next to her is a flight of stairs, with an sign pointing upwards which says, "glow-up"
Ambassador voices: ‘Lockdown-glow-ups’ and the pressure to lose weight

Feeling the pressure to lose weight over lockdown? ...

Illustration shows three young people floating in bubbles. One is looking in a mirror, the second is relaxing in comfy clothes and the third is dancing.
Rethinking the future by Chloe Combi, part two: Do we care less now about how we look?

Has lockdown made you realise you don’t need ...

Illustration shows a young woman looking in the mirror smiling. The text reads: "Leaving your eating disorder behind can be scary, but living with it for the rest of your life will always be scarier"
Ambassador voices: Recovering from an eating disorder

Our young ambassador, Rachel, talks about her ...

No featured article

Self-poisoning and overdosing

What could happen to someone if they overdose, either on pur...
My boyfriend/girlfriend has depression

How to handle your partner if they suffer from depression.
Why do people self-harm?

You may know what self-harm is, but why do some people do it...
My girlfriend/boyfriend has anxiety

How to handle your partner's anxiety and panic attacks.
I feel like I'm going insane

How can you tell if you have a mental health issue? Read our...
Isolation

I lived in California , moved there when I was about 20 ...
How My Disability Made Me Love Myself

I was born with a congenital neuromuscular disorder. ...
I love me because

I'm kind, caring and a good friend

A Different Perspective

My group of friends are all male. All hilarious. All ...
Let's Talk About Men!

A man is the breadwinner of the family. A man is ...