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Cultural expectations of muscularity in men: The evolution of playgirl centerfolds
Author(s) -
Leit Richard A.,
Pope Harrison G.,
Gray James J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(200101)29:1<90::aid-eat15>3.0.co;2-f
Subject(s) - body mass index , psychology , index (typography) , demography , social psychology , sociology , medicine , endocrinology , world wide web , computer science
Objective We sought to assess whether cultural ideals of the male body, as illustrated by magazine models, have changed over the past 25 years. Method We examined 115 male centerfold models in Playgirl magazine from 1973 to 1997. Using the models' heights and weights quoted by the magazine, together with visual estimates of body fat, we calculated the body mass index (BMI) and fat‐free mass index (FFMI) of each model. Results The Playgirl centerfold models became increasingly “dense” and more muscular over time, as indicated by the significant correlations between BMI, FFMI, and year of publication. Discussion These observations, in combination with previous studies, suggest that cultural norms of the ideal male body are growing increasingly muscular. © 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 29: 90–93, 2001.