Body Image in Men: Support and Resources in Grand Rapids, Michigan

What Is Body Image?

Body image is how you see, think about, and feel about your body. It includes:

  • Your body’s size, shape, and weight
  • Individual body parts (for example, chest, stomach, arms, hair)
  • Your overall sense of how you “look” to yourself and others

Your body image is not always connected to your actual appearance. A man in Grand Rapids may appear healthy and fit to others, but still feel “too small,” “too big,” or “not muscular enough.”

Body image can:

  • Change over time
  • Be influenced by mood, stress, relationships, and life events
  • Be shaped by culture, family, and community messages

While body image concerns have often been seen as a women’s health issue, men and boys in Grand Rapids and across Michigan experience body image concerns at all ages.

Body Image Concerns in Men

How Social Pressures Affect Men in Grand Rapids

Poor body image or body dissatisfaction often comes from comparing your body to what society presents as the “ideal male body,” such as:

  • Social media images and fitness influencers
  • Movies, TV, and advertising
  • Sports and bodybuilding culture
  • Health and fitness industries promoting “six-pack abs,” extreme leanness, or large muscles

In the United States, research has shown that the percentage of men experiencing body dissatisfaction has risen from about 15% to 45% over the last 25 years.

In West Michigan, these pressures can be seen:

  • In local gyms and fitness centers across Grand Rapids
  • On college campuses like Grand Valley State University and local high schools
  • In sports communities (hockey, football, cross-country, bodybuilding, and more)

How Body Dissatisfaction Shows Up in Men

Men with body dissatisfaction often focus heavily on:

  • Weight loss
  • Muscle gain or “bulking up”
  • Leanness (low body fat)

This can lead to:

  • Excessive or compulsive exercise
  • Strict or extreme dieting
  • Use of image- and performance-enhancing drugs (such as steroids or other substances)

Around one-third of people with an eating disorder are male, but this is likely under-reported because many men do not seek help or are misdiagnosed.

Why Men Often Don’t Seek Help

Many men in Grand Rapids and across Michigan delay or avoid getting help for body image or eating concerns. Common reasons include:

  • Believing eating disorders are a “female illness”
  • Worrying that asking for help seems “weak”
  • General hesitation about seeing a doctor or therapist
  • Fear of being judged or misunderstood

In addition, eating disorders in men are often missed or misdiagnosed by healthcare professionals, especially if they are only looking for “typical” female symptoms.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and recognize these patterns in yourself, it’s important to know: you are not alone, and help is available locally.

Men at Higher Risk for Body Image Issues

Certain groups of men may be especially vulnerable to body dissatisfaction and eating disorders:

Athletes and Performance-Focused Professions

Men involved in:

  • Competitive sports (wrestling, running, swimming, hockey, football)
  • Bodybuilding and weightlifting
  • Modeling, acting, or dance
  • Military or law enforcement roles that emphasize appearance and fitness

These men are often:

  • Judged on their size, shape, or weight
  • Required to “make weight” or maintain a certain look
  • Exposed to intense pressure from coaches, teammates, or audiences

LGBTQIA+ Men

Men in the LGBTQIA+ community are disproportionately affected by body image concerns and eating disorders. Studies suggest:

  • Around 42% of men with eating disorders identify as gay or bisexual

In Grand Rapids, LGBTQIA+ men may face additional stressors, such as:

  • Pressure to conform to specific “body ideals” in dating or social scenes
  • Experiences of stigma or discrimination
  • Isolation, especially during long Michigan winters when social activities may decrease

Risky Behaviors Linked to Negative Body Image

A negative body image or body dissatisfaction can increase the risk of:

  • Compensatory behaviors after eating
    • Self-induced vomiting
    • Misuse of laxatives or diuretics
  • Steroid or performance-enhancing drug use
    • To increase muscle size
    • To reduce body fat
  • Extreme dieting or fasting
  • Binge eating (eating large amounts of food while feeling out of control)
  • Excessive or compulsive exercise
    • Feeling unable to skip a workout
    • Exercising through illness or injury
    • Planning your whole day around workouts

These behaviors can harm both physical health and mental health, especially in a climate like West Michigan where winter conditions already affect mood, energy, and activity levels.

Causes of Negative Body Image in Men

Negative body image in men often develops over time. Contributing factors can include:

  • Appearance- or weight-related teasing or bullying in childhood or adolescence
  • Peer pressure among teenage boys and men to be physically “tough,” “strong,” or “jacked”
  • Cultural messages that judge people based on appearance
  • Sports culture that emphasizes size, weight, or leanness
  • Social media and advertising
    • Constant exposure to edited, filtered, or enhanced images
  • Well-meaning public health campaigns that focus only on weight loss
  • Seasonal factors in Michigan
    • Long, dark winters can worsen mood and body dissatisfaction
    • Less outdoor activity in cold months can increase focus on appearance

Body Image and Eating Disorders in Men

Poor body image is strongly linked to eating disorders, including:

  • Anorexia nervosa – extreme restriction of food intake, intense fear of weight gain
  • Bulimia nervosa – cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors (vomiting, laxatives, extreme exercise)
  • Binge eating disorder – repeated episodes of eating large amounts of food with a feeling of loss of control, often followed by shame or guilt

Unhealthy behaviors in men may include:

  • Strict dieting, counting every calorie, or cutting out entire food groups
  • Periods of binge eating
  • Exercising multiple times a day or feeling panicked if a workout is missed
  • Using supplements or drugs to change body size or shape

If you notice these patterns in yourself or someone you care about in Grand Rapids, it’s important to seek help early.

Improving Body Image: Practical Steps for Men in Grand Rapids

Changing how you think and feel about your body can take time, especially if negative beliefs developed over many years. The following strategies can help:

1. Reflect on Your Experiences

  • Think about when you first started feeling unhappy with your body.
  • Consider who or what influenced those feelings (family, peers, sports, media, relationships).
  • Notice patterns: are body image concerns worse in winter, during stressful times at work, or around certain people?

2. Reduce Body-Checking

Try to:

  • Weigh yourself less often
  • Avoid constant mirror-checking, pinching, or measuring body parts
  • Limit comparing your body to others at the gym, on social media, or in the locker room

3. Focus on Health and Function, Not Just Appearance

Shift your attention to what your body can do, such as:

  • Shoveling snow in a Michigan winter
  • Walking around downtown Grand Rapids or along the Grand River
  • Playing with your kids, working, studying, or enjoying hobbies

Make a personal commitment to treat your body with respect, regardless of how you feel about its appearance on any given day.

4. Eat for Nourishment and Enjoyment

  • View food as fuel and pleasure, not something you have to “earn” through exercise.
  • Aim for regular, balanced meals that support your energy and mood, especially during dark winter months when energy can dip.
  • Avoid strict rules like “good” vs. “bad” foods.

5. Move Your Body in Joyful Ways

  • Choose activities you enjoy: walking in local parks, biking Kent Trails, playing pickup basketball, swimming, or group fitness classes.
  • Focus on benefits like stress relief, strength, sleep, and mental clarity, rather than burning calories or changing your shape.

6. Think Critically About Media Messages

  • Notice how often you see unrealistic, edited, or filtered male bodies in your feed.
  • Unfollow accounts that make you feel worse about yourself.
  • Follow local and national accounts that promote body diversity, mental health, and realistic fitness.

7. Learn More and Reach Out

  • Read reliable information on body image and men’s mental health.
  • Talk to trusted friends, partners, or family members about how you’re feeling.
  • Consider speaking with a mental health professional who understands men’s body image and eating disorders.

When to Seek Professional Help in Grand Rapids

Consider getting professional help if:

  • Your mood is often low or anxious because of how you feel about your body
  • You think about your appearance or weight most of the day
  • You are dieting, binge eating, purging, or over-exercising
  • You’re using steroids or other substances to change your body
  • Your body image is affecting your relationships, school, work, or social life

Mental health professionals trained in body image and eating disorders can help you:

  • Challenge and change negative beliefs about your body
  • Develop healthier coping strategies
  • Reduce harmful behaviors around food, exercise, and substances

Local Resources for Men’s Body Image and Eating Disorders in Grand Rapids, MI

If you live in Grand Rapids or the surrounding West Michigan area, there are several places to start:

Healthcare Providers

  • Your Primary Care Provider (PCP) or GP

    • Many doctors within Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health can screen for eating disorders and refer you to specialists.

  • Counselors and Psychologists

    • Look for therapists in Grand Rapids who specialize in:
      • Men’s mental health
      • Body image
      • Eating disorders
      • LGBTQIA+ mental health (if relevant to you)

  • Registered Dietitians

    • Dietitians in Grand Rapids can help you rebuild a healthy relationship with food and exercise.
    • Ask for a dietitian experienced in eating disorders or sports nutrition.

Local Public Health and Community Resources

  • Kent County Health Department

    • Offers information on mental health, nutrition, and local referrals.
    • Website: search “Kent County Health Department mental health”

  • Grand Rapids Public Health / City of Grand Rapids resources

    • May provide mental health and wellness information and connect you to local services.

Helplines and Support

  • Eating Disorders Michigan Helpline

    • Phone: (616) 555-0400
    • Offers information, support, and guidance on next steps.

  • National and Online Supports (United States)

    • Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800
    • MensLine United States – 1300 78 99 78
    • Dietitians United States – 1800 812 942
    • Butterfly Foundation for Eating Disorders National Helpline – 1800 33 4673

If you are in immediate crisis, experiencing thoughts of self-harm, or feel unsafe:

  • Go to the nearest emergency department, such as
    • Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital
  • Or call your local emergency number right away.

Taking the Next Step

Body image struggles in men are common, real, and treatable. In Grand Rapids, you have access to:

  • High-quality medical care
  • Mental health professionals who understand men’s concerns
  • Community resources focused on health and well-being

Reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. If body image or eating concerns are affecting your life, consider contacting a local provider or helpline today.