Be a man
High school boys struggle with body image By Lilly Griffihs • Copy Editor
Senior Jacob Schultz is your average Martin student: bright, involved, and driven. What many wouldn’t know about Schultz is that he struggles with how he sees himself. From changing the way he eats to the way he pushes himself in the gym, this struggle affects his daily life and many of the students around him would never know it. Body image has been portrayed as an issue that stereotypically women struggle with, but it can affect men just as severely. As a result of this, men might not know that they are struggling with body
“Why do you look like that?”
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image issues and that they can, and should, reach out for help. Having problems with body image can progress into habits that range from changing the way you eat to even just changing the way you dress. Regardless of the severity of men’s body im-
age issues, it’s still a prevalent issue in society today. “I already eat a lot, but sometimes I tell myself I need to eat more if I want to gain more muscle mass,” Schultz said. “While that may be true, there is an issue with guys eating a ton of calories in unhealthy forms. It’s called ‘dirty bulking,’ and while it may be a form of gaining weight, it isn’t effective or healthy long term.” Men don’t only overeat in hopes to achieve a perfectly toned body, but they also cut back if they feel they’ve gotten out of control. “Some days, when I’m feeling insecure about how I look, I find myself cutting back and restricting what I eat,” senior David Lopez said. “I usually try intermittent fasting so that there isn’t as much time in a day where I can eat.” The average high schooler should eat three full meals a day with a few snacks here or there. With that being said, the average teenage boy should eat around 2,800 calories a day. “I usually eat some fruit and toast for breakfast, then I eat something like a Clif Bar for a mid-morning snack,” Schultz said. “Typically I try to have a balanced lunch, another snack, and then whatever my mom makes for dinner.” In contrast, body image isn’t only about how much
“Facial features aren’t something you can change.” muscle a man has, or his physical attributes. “I feel that faces can be really overlooked,” Lopez said. “People care a lot about how your body looks, but facial features are something you can’t change.” Facial features aren’t the only thing boys are concerned about. They’re also worried about how they’re perceived because of visible blemishes they may have on their faces. “I’ve struggled a lot with acne and it’s not socially acceptable for men to try and cover acne with makeup,” Schultz said. “‘What’s wrong with your face?’ is a question I used to deal with daily because of my acne
Photos by Macy Clift
