"There are limits to muscularity and leanness," says Pope, who believes that an alarmingly high number of male fitness models are getting an illegal "juice boost."
Studies by Pope and others have shown that while men think women prefer very muscular guys, in reality most women find big muscles unattractive almost to the point of being repulsive. In fact, most women preferred to cuddle up to a more average physique.
Another Thing to Worry About
The most extreme version of the Adonis Complex is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Men with BDD are obsessive about their appearance, often fixating on one aspect of it. Hair tops the list of body obsessions. Other big issues include muscularity, chest size, penis size and body fat. Men with BDD may constantly check themselves in the mirror, work out compulsively, or avoid situations that require them to take their shirts off in public. One man with BDD, interviewed in The Adonis Complex, described spending over an hour every morning trying to style his hair just right.
Most men who have BDD know it, but feel powerless to do anything about it. They are usually expert at hiding it from the people closest to them. Breaking the cycle involves therapy (Pope recommends cognitive behavioral therapy, which is specifically geared towards changing specific behaviors). Anti-depressants may also be prescribed.
Get Over It
Of course, BDD is an extreme example of men being tormented by unrealistic body image. Many more men, however, suffer from milder versions of the Adonis Complex. If you or a guy you care about is driven to unhealthy behaviors in the pursuit of a buff bod, consider the following suggestions.
- Don't buy into the media images around you.
- Remember that many of the super-muscular male bodies you're seeing are just products of drugs.
- Know that a vast industry profits from making you feel insecure about your body.
- Masculinity isn't defined just by the way you look.
