bigorexia (pls read!)

[Jordan]

so- i just got in a very heated argument with a female friend of mine who is of the opinion that men do not receive any societal pressure to look a certain way, and that mental disorders in men are nothing compared to those occuring in women. Just writing these words makes me feel furious! i think its total bullshit- i beleive there is AT LEAST as much pressure for men to look a certain way than there is for women. I also think that mental disorders occuring in men are WORSE than those occuring in women. Im not saying that bulimia isnt bad but think about it- youre bulimic, you throw up a few times a day. you have bigorexia, you kill your body overtraining for 6 hours a day, create lifetime problems for yourself through substance abuse (roids etc), go broke from spending all your money of supplements, drugs etc, you neglect your family/friends normal life etc. I knew bulimic girls in highschool, who still did very well in school and had great social lives. I know many guys who have mental disorders and its completely destructive to their lives: no social lives, a constant feeling of incompetance, and in some cases, have ruined there bodies forever due to improper steroid use. You carry that through the rest of your life, where as things like bulimia, you can cure and put it in your past. Anyways, im hoping some of you agree with me and hopefully have articles i can show this girl. i find it so ignorant when women think that they have all the problems in this world and that men have it easy. Please post some articles if you have them! thanks,
j

[blm]

I think there is definitely more pressure put on women. Just think of the male to female ratio of models. There are far more female models. Unfortunately society promotes that thin is sexy. When in my opinion it's neither sexy nor healthy. I think you will have a hard time getting many people to agree with you on this.

[Jordan]

sure, theres more notable female models than male models but thats simply supply and demand. I dont think that reflects societal pressures. Watch primetime shows and youll see what im talking about. All the guys have perfect bleached teeth, perfect hair, tanned skin etc, just like the women. I think people dont realise, however, how much effort goes into maintaining their physiques. For the average guy to have a 6 six pack, it requires a lifestlye dedicated to appearence (working out, proper eating etc). 9 out of 10 guys dont have the level of commitment for this, which is why the 'easy' unhealthy path is taken

[BBAddict]

I bet it could be summed up by the average of how long a woman stands in front of a mirror, shopping, at the hair stylist, etc. compared to a man. There are always exceptions, of course, but I have to agree with blm, the majority of pressure is on the woman.

Just look at the schools today-girls still gotta look good-good hair, makeup, clothes, but the guys are cool if they look sloppy.

[BBAddict]

Also, guys judge potential mates much more by appearance than woman do. Woman are much more concerned about security, happiness, etc.

[The_Jarhead]

I think for younger people the pressures are closer to the same. Although still more so for women but as you age that really changes.

Women are still expected to stay young looking a thin as they age. It's more acceptable for men to put on weight as they age. Think about it as men get older and start to go grey they become "distinguished". Where as women turn into old maids.

[Jordan]

i actually agree with what you are all saying, although its not quite what i was refering to. What got to me was that this girl wasnt willing to recognize that there does exist mental-bodily disorders in men. I dont think ive ever met a girl who has heard of bigorezia, reverse anorexia, musle dysmorphia etc. Highschool steriod use is through the roof, yet people dont associate it with body-image. I think men have a natural instinct, or desire, to be bigger, stronger and more powerfull than other men. Id guess this is a product of caveman days when might was right on an individual scale. Although our instincts change, i think once someone starts hitting the gym and growing, the instincts come right back and people will go to extreme lengths to satisfy this craving. Im sure you all witness this everyday at the gym. it is a real and significant problem, as it can lead to very destructive habits. So maybe its not societal pressures that lead to these disorders but they still exist.

[SloppyJo]

umm.. i think they both have social pressures... but both are different... but one interesting fact is that suicide is the most prevelent in middle aged white men, which is something that shouldnt be overlooked

[Megiddo]

Originally posted by SloppyJo
umm.. i think they both have social pressures... but both are different... but one interesting fact is that suicide is the most prevelent in middle aged white men, which is something that shouldnt be overlooked

Which is typically a result of midlife crisis. Men have social pressure based on looks as well as trying to be the bread winners in an ever competing global economy and a more equal work force.

[Mr incredible]

Originally posted by Jordan
so- i just got in a very heated argument with a female friend of mine who is of the opinion that mental disorders in men are nothing compared to those occuring in women.
j

Sorry man, I agree with her

[canadagold]

Originally posted by Jordan
so- i just got in a very heated argument with a female friend of mine who is of the opinion that men do not receive any societal pressure to look a certain way, and that mental disorders in men are nothing compared to those occuring in women. Just writing these words makes me feel furious! i think its total bullshit- i beleive there is AT LEAST as much pressure for men to look a certain way than there is for women. I also think that mental disorders occuring in men are WORSE than those occuring in women. Im not saying that bulimia isnt bad but think about it- youre bulimic, you throw up a few times a day. you have bigorexia, you kill your body overtraining for 6 hours a day, create lifetime problems for yourself through substance abuse (roids etc), go broke from spending all your money of supplements, drugs etc, you neglect your family/friends normal life etc. I knew bulimic girls in highschool, who still did very well in school and had great social lives. I know many guys who have mental disorders and its completely destructive to their lives: no social lives, a constant feeling of incompetance, and in some cases, have ruined there bodies forever due to improper steroid use. You carry that through the rest of your life, where as things like bulimia, you can cure and put it in your past. Anyways, im hoping some of you agree with me and hopefully have articles i can show this girl. i find it so ignorant when women think that they have all the problems in this world and that men have it easy. Please post some articles if you have them! thanks,
j

Bulemia and anorexia affects a far greater percentage of women than "bigorexia" or muscle dysmorphia whatever you wish to call it in men. . .and it is not "curable" as it is a mental condition as you stated . . .ask any woman or physician that has had it or dealt with it. . .it never goes away and most women have to fight with it for the rest of their lives. ..
For a guy to look like someone on TV is EASY in my opinion ( just my .02 mind you). . .I could stop all gear. .in fact, I would HAVE to stop all gear to look like that . .just eat a moderate calorie diet, hit the protein and jack up the cardio and I can be a 165-180lb six pack totin' twig. . .anybody can achieve that with not much effort. . .there are only a handful of physiques on TV that are NOT achievable without a great blessing in the genetics department and some gear. . .
Women on the other hand are not blessed in a lot of cases with a fast metabolism or any muscle and have weak thyroid output at best. .so to get down to a "magazine" weight, they usually resort to starving or purging. . .and that is not healthy in itself. . .ulcers, tooth decay and many other side effects happen. . .
This is in no way a flame bro. .just my opinion on a subject that will always cause people to get thier backs up. . .I think you said in a later post that the girl you talked to just would not acknowledge that guys do experience pressure. .and yes, we do. .so in that case she is wrong; but we don't get the same type of pressure to look good in terms of societal "norms" as they do. .we do get lots more pressure to bring home the bacon etc. . but that is life right?

[zachrulz]

i would say that the pressure is pretty equal.....although different in many ways. its pretty naive to think that one is greater than the other. i will never be able to experience what she is experinceing and she will never be able to experience what i experience.

[dreamgirl]

i think pressure on women is way more to be thin.

I think of everyones husband I know and the majority are overweight and everytime I am with the women, they are always talkign about what diet and exercise program they are trying out. I don't feel that the husbands are obsessing about that as much as the wives...

Look at a lot of shows on tv where there is a fat guy married to a hot skinny woman....
-King of Queens
-Listen Up (Jason Alexanders new show)
-Still Standing
-George Lopez
-According to Jim

I even got some pics of this...

[dreamgirl]

here's King of Queens - the best example

[dreamgirl]

Still Standing

[BBAddict]

Originally posted by dreamgirl
here's King of Queens - the best example

Yeah, every time I've seen that show, I've thought-only on TV, he could never get her in real life.

[Shibby]

Originally posted by dreamgirl
i think pressure on women is way more to be thin.

I think of everyones husband I know and the majority are overweight and everytime I am with the women, they are always talkign about what diet and exercise program they are trying out.

That's only because most women don't know the difference between being skinny and being lean.

[Shibby]

To your question Jordan, I do think there is more pressure on women.

Here is also something to read that might intrest you

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/psycho...ogy/buffed.htm