Burn Fat, Build Muscle: A Content Analysis of Men's Health and Men's Fitness

This study categorized the contents of a sample of Men’s Health and Men’s Fitness magazines published from 1999 to 2003. It found that these magazines were more likely to feature male images characterized as low in body fat and very muscular than images characterized by other levels of fat and muscularity. The contents of the articles and advertisements included in these magazines, particularly in Men’s Fitness, were found to emphasize leanness and muscularity. Exposure to these images and messages could contribute to concerns and behaviors related to achieving a lean and muscular physique. More research is needed to understand the effects these magazines may have on different groups of men.