The Ideal Male Physique: Does It Exist?

The Ideal Male Physique: Does It Exist?
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What comes to mind when you think of the ideal male physique? Broad shoulders, slim hips, plenty of muscles? Or maybe you’d prefer a slimmer, leaner physique? Does society dictate what is ideal for a man’s body, or is it an individual thing?

Author John Updike wrote an essay called “The Disposable Rocket,” in which he stated that “Inhabiting a male body is much like having a bank account; as long as it’s healthy, you don’t think much about it.”

Men and Eating Disorders

However, thanks in part to the media and society’s unrealistic expectations, men today are more concerned about their body images and how they compare to the bodies of their peers. More men than ever are developing eating disorders, according to a CBS and WebMD report.

In fact, says Sondra Kronberg, the co-founder of the Eating Disorder Associates Treatment and Referral Centers, cultural preferences and peer pressure are beginning to affect men in the same way that they affect women.

“Males are taking on our unhealthy obsession with thinness and perfection, and as a result we are seeing an increased incidence in eating disorders in males,” she says.

Men and Body Image

Simply defined, body image is the way that one feels about or perceives his own body. Body image is affected by several factors, including one’s fitness level and perceived equality (or inequality) with other men and their physiques. Society and cultural preferences often play a part in how men feel about their bodies as well.

Those with a negative body image often feel as though they’re unattractive or otherwise undesirable and often have a distorted image of what they look like. They often compare themselves to other men and feel ashamed or anxious about their bodies, as well as feeling awkward and uncomfortable in their own skins.

A more positive body image can be achieved when a man is able to celebrate himself for what and who he is, and to feel comfortable in his natural body shape. Working out and eating right can certainly help anyone to feel more connected and in tune with his body as well.

Men and Body Fat

The fact is, although some would disagree, that there really isn’t a specific “ideal male physique,” but men can take precautions to ensure that they’re healthy. The International Sports Science Association (ISSA) has released a chart that indicates that healthy (non-body building) men should shoot for a body fat percentage between 8 and 24 percent, depending on age.

And, says ISSA, men who have less than 5 percent body fat could be considered unhealthy or “under fat.” However, body builders may have as little as 2 percent body fat and remain healthy.

However, advises body builder and author Marc David, “Don’t let a body fat measurement control your life! It’s just one of many indicators of progress and/or health.”