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Updated: May 13, 2026

Skeletal Muscle Gender Dimorphism from Proteomics
Published on: December 14, 2011
Reality television and the muscular male ideal
Starla L Dallesasse1, Annette S Kluck
1Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. Sla0004@auburn.edu
Abstract:
Although researchers have examined the negative effects of viewing reality television (RTV) on women's body image, this research has not been extended to men. Exploring the extent to which RTV depicts men who embody the muscular ideal may enhance our understanding of the potential influence of this media genre. We explored the extent to which RTV depicted men who embodied the muscular ideal using a quantitative content analysis. Based on binomial tests, the primary male cast members of programs airing on networks popular among young adult men during the Fall 2009 broadcast season were more muscular, with lower levels of body fat, than average U.S. men. The chest-to-waist and shoulder-to-waist ratios of these cast members did not differ as a function of program type (i.e., reality drama, endurance, and romance). Young men who view RTV programs included in the present study would be exposed to an unrepresentative muscular ideal.
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