God Esteem

It’s not just young women who struggle with body image issues. In recent years, guys have been having greater and greater issues with eating disorders, problems with excessive exercise, anxiety and depression, low self esteem, and body image issues. Guys are also less likely than young women to talk about or get help for these issues.

Body dissatisfaction can lead to suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and contribute to other underlying mental health conditions. Teens who experience bullying due to their appearance may continue to suffer from body dissatisfaction and related issues as they age.

During the pandemic, isolation, and lack of social and physical activity has led to a spike in disordered eating and negative body image issues in guys. Many experts attribute the increase in males affected by negative body image to the influence of social media as well as popular media. The muscular superheroes in action movies and the highly documented body transformations and workout regimens of celebrities contribute to feelings of inferiority among young men with “average” bodies.

So what can you do? You can limit social media use or adjust what comes into your feed, in order to avoid negative social comparisons. You can also remember that media portrayals of muscular bodies are often curated and unrealistic. You can be honest about your struggles with negative body image issues, and find safe places to talk about what you’re going through. You can still love Jesus and have a Therapist. You can create exercise and eating goals that are realistic and emphasize overall health and wellness, rather than just your appearance. You can build confidence and healthy masculinity through activities that aren’t related to body image, such as church attendance, volunteering, hikes in nature, and creative expression. Lastly, you can help build male body positivity by accepting your body as it is, and focusing on what you like about it—rather than hyper-focusing on what you don’t like—or hate--about it.

Longer term mental health treatment may be necessary in order to heal from the anxiety, depression, trauma, and suicidal ideation associated with male body image issues. Types of therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness techniques, and Attachment-Based Family Therapy are effective in enhancing low self-esteem to build healthier habits and coping mechanisms.

Recognition of the truth that your body is where God lives! “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20, NLT).

Focusing on the fact that your worth is rooted solely and most importantly in the fact that you are created by God and redeemed by Jesus, should help you to remember just how valuable you are! “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16, 17, NLT).