Body pressure hits boys

Experts urge parents to take steps to protect sons

BOYS as young as five face body image insecurity, making them feel bad about how they look, researchers say.

University of Melbourne research fellow Scott Griffiths said parents can take steps to protect their sons from negative messages telling them they’re not muscular enough or too skinny.

“Historically, women and girls have faced this pressure disproportionately, but rather than this reducing, boys and men are now feeling the same way,” Dr Griffiths said.

A study by Dr Griffiths of 1666 schoolchildren published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found just over half of boys report some body dissatisfaction.

Merissa Forsyth, founder of Pretty Foundation, which is a non-profit organisation focusing on building body resilience in girls, is now expanding its focus to include boys.

“We soon realised that to truly see change in our society with regards to body image, we had to get men and boys in- volved too,” she said.

Dr Griffiths said stoicism, which is a part of traditional masculinity, can make it harder for males of any age to speak out.

“For those affected it can have a major impact on quality of life and how it makes them feel,” he said.

“You don’t find boys saying they want to be skinny and have a thigh gap. Boys are more likely to want to have broad shoulders, a six pack or biceps.

“But people aren’t as aware there might be a problem with boys working out in the gym six days a week or drinking protein shakes.”

Dr Griffiths said such messages started having an impact from the age of five upwards.

Pretty Foundation has released some new books in the Charlie’s Tales series designed to appeal to boys as well as girls, called Sylvie and the Star Tree and Cassia and the Fire Dragons.

Dr Griffiths said reading books with positive messages was important because they stand in opposition to more intangible negative messages.