Pre-teen boys worried about body image and muscles, Flinders University study finds

THE muscles make the man — that’s the prevailing belief among pre-teen boys, who want to beef up to impress girls.

24/12/14. Research shows that body image affects boys just as much as girls. Young boys L-R Tomas Parker, 12, Patrick Kluzek, 13, Kian Bird, 13, and Harry Dawkins, 12, at Marion Swimming Centre. Pic. Noelle Bobrige

THE muscles make the man — that’s the prevailing belief among pre-teen boys, who want to beef up to impress girls, South Australian research shows.

Body image has long been recognised as a concern for young girls but SA researchers are finding that boys are also influenced by images of beefed-up male actors or gym junkies.

A long-term study by Flinders University husband-and-wife team Murray and Claire Drummond has examined the views of the same group of boys about their bodies and the looks of other males.

The boys, now aged about 11 or 12, all focus heavily on the link between being manly and having muscles and “six-pack” abdominal muscles.

A paper the Drummonds published this year reported that, for the first time, the group began “talking about ‘ladies’ (girls) in any way other than being stronger than them and beating them in sport”.

“Boys want to be big and strong so they can get the ladies,” one young male study participant said. “Everyone wants a six-pack to show off to the girls.”

The study is now examining the impact of social media on boys’ body image.

“New electronic media and social networking sites are having a major influence on the way in which young children perceive the body,” a recent paper states.

“Boys now have access to a range of unrealistic body images. The constant advertisements that adorn the sidebars of websites as they play games is one such example.”

Professor Drummond says schools should be prepared to talk to boys and girls together about body image issues “rather than in gendered isolation”.

Experts estimate about 10 per cent of South Australians will experience an eating disorder.

Eating Disorders Association of SA education services manager Kate Parsons said that up to a quarter of those would be male but they were less likely to seek help because it was often portrayed as an illness that only affected women.

“Over-exercising and the extreme pursuits of muscle growth are often portrayed as healthy and desirable for males but can actually indicate a significant disorder and can lead to serious health issues,” Ms Parsons said.

Opposition health spokesman Stephen Wade said eating disorders had the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder “and boys are not immune”.

The State Government has committed $15,000 to run a social media body image campaign next year, aimed at girls aged 7 to 12, in an effort to reach them before they succumb to peer pressure.

However, there has been criticism that the campaign should also focus on boys.

In June, the $1.2 million Statewide Eating Disorder Service opened at Brighton.

Health Minister Jack Snelling said it was expected to treat more than 100 patients a year, offering a day program and outpatient therapy.

For information visit www.edasa.org.au or www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/SEDS

— with Isabella Fowler