Weekly Analysis 2-1

How many times have you asked, “does this dress make me look fat?” or you say, “I just don’t like the way I look, I wish I could lose five pounds.” In today’s culture a person’s self-image is outweighed by what society perceives to be beautiful. In days past this stigma was directed mainly towards women, but in modern culture it is now being impressed upon men. This dilemma has led to a new body disorder called “muscle dysmorphia or bigorexia.”(Browne, 2005. p70) When I first read about bigorexia, my thought was you must be kidding right, so I reread the passage to find out more about muscle dysmorphia. According to about.com, men’s health report, July 21, 2006, muscle dysmorphia is described as having the thought that no mater how hard you try your body is never muscular enough. This misconception has stemmed from our young boys believing that they should be built like the action figures they play with or the stereotypes they see on T.V. The biggest culprits behind their low self-esteem are superheroes and sports figures of today. They have taken over what boys and men now see as the perfect male body. Every time I turn on my T.V. I am bombarded with one false image or another, from baseball players to WWF wrestlers, the media glorifies what men should look like in order to considered acceptable. In researching this topic there are few articles to be seen, I believe that educating the young men on the consequences of this disabling disease is very important, effects such as excessive acne, breast enlargement, impotence, baldness, and testicular shrinkage. Unfortunately, no matter how much our young men are warned I believe until the popular opinion in today’s culture is changed and it is no longer about, “who is the biggest” or “who is the strongest” we will continue to have boys and men suffering from this sickness just as many of today’s women are still suffering from anorexia. References About.com (2006, July, 26). Bigorexia: reverse anorexia. Retrieved November 14, 2008, from http://www.menshealth.about.com/cs/menonly Browne, R. (2005) Profiles of popular culture. The University of Wisconsin Press: Popular Press.