Social media content focused on muscularity linked to muscle dysmorphia among boys and men

TORONTO, ON, Canada — A new study reveals a concerning association between viewing social media content emphasizing muscularity and muscle dysmorphia among boys and men in Canada and the United States. The research, part of the 2024 Study of Boys and Men, analyzed data from 1,553 participants and found that exposure to specific types of content is linked to higher rates of probable muscle dysmorphia.

Muscle dysmorphia, a condition characterized by an obsessive preoccupation with perceived insufficient muscularity, is often overlooked in discussions about body image and social media. This study examined the impact of viewing three types of content on social media: images of muscular bodies, posts promoting muscle-building dietary supplements (e.g., whey protein), and content featuring muscle-building drugs (e.g., anabolic-androgenic steroids).

“We found strong, positive associations between the frequency of viewing all three types of content and experiencing muscle dysmorphia in the study,” says lead author Kyle T. Ganson, PhD, MSW, assistant professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. “Most importantly, these associations persisted even after accounting for overall time spent on social media. This suggests that the type of content viewed—not just total screen time—plays a critical role in shaping body image concerns among boys and men.”

These authors highlight a growing need to examine how specific social media content contributes to body image-related mental health issues in boys and men. Understanding the influence of muscularity-oriented media is vital for developing prevention strategies.

“We need to ensure that boys and men engage in media and health literacy to foster healthier relationships with social media and body image,” says Ganson.

The authors also call for more longitudinal research to clarify the long-term risks of viewing muscularity-oriented content.