Looksmaxxing isn’t just a TikTok trend – it often reflects severe body image issues in teen boys and young men

Sensationalizing extreme behaviors like self-starvation and ‘bonesmashing’ rather than treating them as mental health symptoms can prevent boys and young men from getting much-needed care.

By: Jordyn Tovey, University of Michigan, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: May 22, 2026

Words: 1,404

Last Updated: 2 months ago

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By Jordyn Tovey, University of Michigan

Punishing regimens of facial exercises. Intentional starvation. Reshaping the jawline or cheekbones by smashing them with a hammer or chisel.

These are some of the more extreme behaviors in a practice called looksmaxxing – an effort to maximize one’s looks at all costs – that’s attracting an enormous following of largely teenage boys and young men on social media. Looksmaxxing has gone from niche to mainstream since

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