ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines some of the key areas of research linked to men's body image, and consider the implications these have for working with men to manage weight-related health. Undoubtedly, research linked to body image in men highlights a number of key challenges for practitioners working with issues of weight problems in men. The notion of meaning is vitally important here, for both socio-cultural theories and evolutionary psychology theories highlight the extent to which transmission of bodily ideals through media and other public forums influence both men's and women's view of their own bodies and those around them. Yet recognising and handling such male experiences may be alien to many health practitioners, particularly women, who are entirely accustomed to issues of bodily (dis)satisfaction deriving from their gendered status as well as equally familiar with historical constructions of body concerns as primarily located within the female domain.
