Forget men's underwear ads featuring male models with six packs and ripped bodies - the latest brand Surge Underwear has dared to use men of all shapes and sizes in its first advertising campaign.
A brand spokesman said the aim of the campaign was to take off some of the pressure on men to have body image issues.
In 2017 NHS figures that show the number of men being admitted to hospital with an eating disorder has risen by 70% over the past six years, and those referred for treatment has risen by more than 40% in the past two years.
On top of this the UK has seen a rise in muscle dysmorphia amid fears that one in 10 men training in UK gyms could have a condition leading to depression, steroid abuse and even suicide.
Muscle dysmorphia, which is also known as bigorexia, is an anxiety disorder which causes someone to see themselves as small, despite being big and muscular.
One of the companies’ director’s, TV personality, Austin Armacost said:"We sat down and designed this range over a year ago and from day one it was decided that our brand was going to be an inclusive brand.
"We do not want to ostracise anyone.
"Men with muscles, skinny guys, larger guys we want them all to feel sexy and confident when wearing our brand.
"Every single person is beautiful and this needs to be celebrated more.
"There is a lot of talk of female high-street brands using plus size models but where are the men?
"We want to add towards overcoming an unattainable beauty standard and display an accurate representation of the “Every day man.”
Surge is available from www.surgeunderwear.com
People body shame each other too much!
Name: Austyn Farrell
Instagram handle: @austynfarrell92
Height: 5ft11
Age: 25
Location: London
Do you feel comfortable naked?
In boxers yes, not fully naked!
What is your favourite part of your body?
My thighs.
Do you feel pressure to look a certain way?
A little bit, as a dancer I can be judged a lot.
Especially when dancing topless on TV, I can feel very intimidated.
How do you feel social media has affected people’s view on their bodies?
I feel it’s done terrible things for peoples’ bodies, especially me.
People compare bodies on social media and body shame each other too much!
We live in a world now where so many people don’t feel comfortable in their own skin.
The eyes have it
Name: Scott Keith
Instagram handle: @scottkeith49
Height: 5ft7
Weight: 9st
Age: 35
Location: London
Do you feel comfortable naked?
Sometimes if I’m having a good day and I’ve not had too many carbs!
What is your favourite part of your body?
My eyes, I just wish my lashes were darker.
Do you feel pressure to look a certain way?
Yes, all ‘models’ are ripped and not normal.
How do you feel social media has affected people’s view on their bodies?
Negatively as you only see perfect people posing that have been touched up.
Social media hasn't really affected people's view of their bodies
Name: Christopher Paul Barnes
Instagram handle: @owlman1975
Height: 5ft6
Weight: 11st
Age: 43
Location: London
Do you feel comfortable naked?
Yes I do.
What is your favourite part of your body?
My chest.
Do you feel pressure to look a certain way?
No I don’t.
How do you feel social media has affected people’s view on their bodies?
I don’t really think it has.
People like to portray a certain image in today's world
Name: James Andrew Vickery
Instagram handle: @j_andrewofficial
Height: 5ft9
Age: 23
Location: London
Do you feel comfortable naked?
Yes.
What is your favourite part of your body?
My favourite part of my body would have to be my eyes, but if we had to talk about being naked then it would be something more explicit.
Do you feel pressure to look a certain way?
No, I don’t.
We were born to look the way we should, so we need to embrace that and not be ashamed of what we look like.
How do you feel social media has affected people’s view on their bodies?
Social media has affected people’s views in many ways because people nowadays have to portray a certain image into today's world.
Social media is a massive platform nowadays and people use it more to see what people are doing, looking like and of course to judge.
Body positivity floats my boat
Name: Dexter Montgomery
Instagram handle: @dextralarge
Height: 5ft11
Weight: 17st2
Age: 18
Location: Essex
Do you feel comfortable naked?
More so than before my operation, I used to hate the way I looked.
But I’m a lot more accepting of my body and will continue to be a bad bitch!
What is your favourite part of your body?
My legs and my hair colour.
Do you feel pressure to look a certain way?
Of course.
How do you feel social media has affected people’s view on their bodies?
It makes people feel they need to look a certain way, but there are a lot of body positivity accounts which is good.
A lot of changes still need to be done.
People are much more self-conscious of their bodies now
Name: James Slevin
Instagram handle: @jamieslevinn_
Height: 5ft9
Weight: 11st
Age: 25
Location: Glasgow
Do you feel comfortable naked?
No...well maybe!
What is your favourite part of your body?
My bum.
Do you feel pressure to look a certain way?
No.
How do you feel social media has affected people’s view on their bodies?
I think it’s made people much more self-conscious.
I feel pressure to look a certain way
Name: Jordan James
Instagram handle: @jordan_james1997
Height: 5ft9
Weight: 69kg
Age: 21
Location: Wokingham
Do you feel comfortable naked?
Of my back / sometimes.
What is your favourite part of your body?
My bum.
Do you feel pressure to look a certain way?
Yes I do.
How do you feel social media has affected people’s view on their bodies?
People use filters and do not show their real selves.
Social media can help promote confident bodies
Name: Jay Kamiraz
Instagram handle: @jaykamiraz
Height: 60kg
Weight: 9st
Age: 39
Location: London
Do you feel comfortable naked?
I feel comfortable naked behind closed doors, it has taken a while for me to get where I am with my body confidence.
What is your favourite part of your body?
My eyes and my décolletage.
Do you feel pressure to look a certain way?
Yes, social media and media in general do pressure you to look a certain way.
I want to break away from pressure and help people feel confident.
How do you feel social media has affected people’s view on their bodies?
Social media can do one of two things, it can help promote confident bodies or it can promote negativity like trolls and body shaming – I have been victim to it.
People are healthier from the inside
Name: Luis Gabriel Gonzalez-Castro
Instagram handle: @luisenlondres
Height: 5ft11
Weight: 13stone9
Age: 40
Location: London
Do you feel comfortable naked?
Yes I do.
What is your favourite part of your body?
My legs.
Do you feel pressure to look a certain way?
At times yes, but I’m trying to come away from that feeling.
How do you feel social media has affected people’s view on their bodies?
In a positive way it has made people really consider their lifestyle.
Not necessarily to look perfect but to be healthier from the inside.
There is pressure to lose weight and be muscly
Name: Daniel Leo Stanley
Instagram handle: @danleostanley
Height: 5ft8
Weight: No idea!
Age: 30
Location: Brighton
Do you feel comfortable naked?
Yes!
What is your favourite part of your body?
My mouth because I have nice lips and teeth.
My legs because they are big and thick.
Do you feel pressure to look a certain way?
Not a certain way, but generally there is a pressure to lose weight and to be muscly etc.
I do try to ignore that and work with my body’s natural size and shape.
How do you feel social media has affected people’s view on their bodies?
The constant comparison to each other is normal, but at such a high rate is unhealthy.
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