Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

A third of young British men want to change their appearance and the 'picture perfect culture' on social media is to blame: Survey

More than 40% of men in Britain want to build muscle and one in 10 wants steroids

A third of young British men want to change their appearance and the 'picture perfect culture' on social media is to blame: Survey

A survey conducted by health and fitness company, Origym comprises more than 2000 people in the UK confirms that social media negatively affects body image.

The survey claims to have found that unrealistic expectations about how you should look, encouraged by the “picture perfect culture” on social media is affecting the mental health of one in 10 men.


Psychologist Rob Willson from the Body Dysmorphic Foundation is reported to have said, "There's lots of pressure from social media to try to conform to certain stereotypes of an idealised beauty and particularly in men.

"This is a real challenge because we're a bit less used to it than women are, we're more recently exposed to these kinds of pressures and regretfully women have been exposed for a lot longer but also there's very little movement at the moment against pressure on men."

Based on a report that was carried in Sky News, 26-year-old George Mycock, from Staffordshire had developed a condition called muscle dysmorphia as a teenager, which leads people to think that they are less muscular than they really are.

According to George who runs MyoMinds to raise awareness regarding these issues, social media is the “devil” in these situations.

Speaking about the influence of social media on negative body image and the dangerous path it can lead you to, he is quoted as saying, "I think it does play a huge part - it's very easy to get engrossed in an echo chamber, you follow the people who agree with your extreme thoughts and they show you more extreme thoughts and it starts spiralling out of control."

He adds, "I got into the fitness industry, the fitness industry community, and I saw all the guys in that were big, muscular, covered in veins, six packs, that stuff, and I thought that's what I needed to adhere to.

"That pursuit came from there and that's when I took on disordered eating, exercise addiction, training 'x' amount of times, being incredibly restrictive how I ate. Eventually it led to suicidal behaviours, suicidal ideations, it led down this dark path."

It is estimated that there are 3,6 users of social media worldwide and it is now a large part of today’s culture. Speaking about how social media can sabotage your body image, the Insider had reported that consistently scrolling through posts, particularly images that evoke negative feelings or elevate a certain body type, can impact how you perceive yourself.

The report adds that because social media is filled with people who only present themselves in their best light - it becomes difficult to evade the posts and images that might make you see your body in a negative way.

The findings of the survey reveal that more than 40% of men in Britain want to build muscle and one in 10 wants steroids to build and transform their body.

In an earlier report, Dr John Skevofilax, chief of Surgery for Signature Clinic in the UK had warned that men are abusing steroids and this can lead to breast growth. As, a result he is reportedly performing hundreds of breast reduction surgeries on men.

He attributes this craze for steroids to shows like Love Island, which is a British dating game show. He is quoted as saying, "If you turn it on, every guy on there has a six pack, his chest is out to here, pecs and everything are blowing out of their shirts, so guys are seeing this and they want to emulate their heroes just like in the eighties when it was Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger."

More For You

Unaccustomed Earth Netflix

Siddharth and Freida Pinto team up for Netflix’s Unaccustomed Earth adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s short stories

Getty Images

Siddharth and Freida Pinto lead Netflix’s adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s ‘Unaccustomed Earth’ centred on scandalous affair shaking an immigrant community

Highlights:

  • Siddharth to co-star with Freida Pinto in Netflix’s Unaccustomed Earth
  • Series based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s award-winning short story collection
  • John Wells and Madhuri Shekar leading the adaptation with Ritesh Batra directing two episodes
  • Cast includes Indraneil Sengupta, Adi Roy, Sarayu Blue, and Iyla Sundarsingh Mckaig

Actor Siddharth has joined Freida Pinto in Unaccustomed Earth, Netflix’s highly anticipated adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s celebrated short story collection. The new drama, combining elements of family conflict with romance, marks Siddharth’s latest international outing. With Pinto leading the cast, the series promises to bring Lahiri’s themes of migration, love, and identity to a global audience.

Unaccustomed Earth Netflix Siddharth and Freida Pinto team up for Netflix’s Unaccustomed Earth adaptation of Jhumpa Lahiri’s short stories Getty Images

Keep ReadingShow less
Piyush Goyal

Piyush Goyal recalled that in February, Narendra Modi and Donald Trump had instructed their trade ministers to conclude the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by November 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Trade talks with US moving forward positively, says Indian minister Goyal

INDIA’s commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that negotiations on the proposed trade agreement between India and the United States, which began in March, are progressing in a positive atmosphere and both sides are satisfied with the discussions.

He recalled that in February, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and US president Donald Trump had instructed their trade ministers to conclude the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by November 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police said they were called just before 08:30 BST on Tuesday, September 9, after the woman reported being attacked by two men near Tame Road. (Representational image: iStock)

Woman raped in racially aggravated attack in Oldbury

A WOMAN in her 20s was raped in Oldbury in what police are treating as a racially aggravated attack.

West Midlands Police said they were called just before 08:30 BST on Tuesday, September 9, after the woman reported being attacked by two men near Tame Road. Officers said the men made a racist remark during the incident.

Keep ReadingShow less
Aamir Khan

Coolie hits £47m worldwide as fake ‘big mistake’ quote on Aamir Khan cameo goes viral

Instagram/sunpictures

Aamir Khan did not call his ‘Coolie’ cameo a mistake, fact-check confirms amid record-breaking run

Highlights:

  • Viral clipping claimed Aamir Khan called his cameo in Coolie “a big mistake”
  • The image showed fabricated quotes criticising the role and script
  • Fact checks confirm no credible record of Aamir making such remarks
  • Despite mixed reactions, Coolie has crossed £41.75 million (₹500 crore) globally

Aamir Khan, one of Bollywood’s most acclaimed stars, has become the subject of a viral claim alleging he regretted his cameo in Coolie. The Rajinikanth starrer, directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, featured Aamir in a brief special appearance. Social media posts claimed Aamir called the cameo “a big mistake”, but fact checks have found no evidence he ever said this. The controversy surfaced as the film continues its strong box office run.

Aamir Khan Coolie hits £47m worldwide as fake ‘big mistake’ quote on Aamir Khan cameo goes viral Instagram/sunpictures

Keep ReadingShow less