Why Aqil chose to open up about his issues

Is BMI a reliable health indicator?

Obsessing over the scales

How should we deal with toxic masculinity?

Vicious circle; reactions to therapy

The importance of "feeling things"

Gender stereotypes and toxic masculinity may point to body image issues in men.

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

Outdated stereotypes of what a man should be like continue to exist today, with a new generation of social media influencers like Andrew Tate and Adin Ross producing content that posits to teach men how to be men.

But does it make someone any less of a man if they decide to speak up about the issues they face?

For years, ST journalist Aqil Hamzah, 28, has grappled with body image issues, but was too afraid to seek help, thinking it wouldn’t be the manly thing to do.

Years of skipping meals took a toll on his health, and it was only after losing clumps of hair that he decided to seek help for it.

In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong unpacks the issues that have plagued her co-host Aqil alongside psychiatrist Adrian Loh, who specialises in child and adolescent psychiatry.

The trio then discuss if toxic masculinity has a role to play in men’s unwillingness to speak up about their issues.

Highlights (click/tap above): 

00:56 Why Aqil chose to open up about his issues

03:27 Is BMI an accurate indication for weight management?

08:50 Obsessing over the scales

21:21 What is toxic masculinity and how should people deal with it?

24:51 How role models repeat a vicious cycle & the different reactions to therapy

33:35 The importance of feeling things

Read Aqil’s article on body image here: https://str.sg/kuf8 

 Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Follow Aqil Hamzah on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ttUo 

Read his articles: https://str.sg/i5gS 

Host: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg) 

Produced and edited by: Natasha Liew

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

#inyouropinion

Gender stereotypes and toxic masculinity may point to body image issues in men.
Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.
Outdated stereotypes of what a man should be like continue to exist today, with a new generation of social media influencers like Andrew Tate and Adin Ross producing content that posits to teach men how to be men.
But does it make someone any less of a man if they decide to speak up about the issues they face?
For years, ST journalist Aqil Hamzah, 28, has grappled with body image issues, but was too afraid to seek help, thinking it wouldn&rsquo;t be the manly thing to do.
Years of skipping meals took a toll on his health, and it was only after losing clumps of hair that he decided to seek help for it.
In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong unpacks the issues that have plagued her co-host Aqil alongside psychiatrist Adrian Loh, who specialises in child and adolescent psychiatry.
The trio then discuss if toxic masculinity has a role to play in men&rsquo;s unwillingness to speak up about their issues.
Highlights (click/tap above):&nbsp;
00:56 Why Aqil chose to open up about his issues
03:27 Is BMI an accurate indication for weight management?
08:50 Obsessing over the scales
21:21 What is toxic masculinity and how should people deal with it?
24:51 How role models repeat a vicious cycle &amp; the different reactions to therapy
33:35 The importance of feeling things
Read Aqil&rsquo;s article on body image here:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/kuf8">https://str.sg/kuf8</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;<a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/fatty-sissy-gym-rat-a-young-mans-struggle-with-body-image"></a>Read ST&rsquo;s Opinion section:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sH"> https://str.sg/w7sH</a>
Follow Aqil Hamzah on LinkedIn: <a href="https://str.sg/ttUo">https://str.sg/ttUo</a>&nbsp;
Read his articles: <a href="https://str.sg/i5gS">https://str.sg/i5gS&nbsp;</a>
Host: Lynda Hong (<a href="mailto:lyndahong@sph.com.sg">lyndahong@sph.com.sg</a>)&nbsp;
Produced and edited by: Natasha Liew
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:
Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt"> https://str.sg/w7Qt</a>
Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/wukb"> https://str.sg/wukb</a>
Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sV"> https://str.sg/w7sV</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg/" data-stringify-link="https://www.awedio.sg" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://www.awedio.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-stringify-link="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-sk="tooltip_parent">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/4Vwsa" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:<a href="https://str.sg/icyB"> https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX"> https://str.sg/icyX</a>
---
#inyouropinion

A hard look at the social issues of the month in Singapore. Join ST journalists and other guests as they discuss with Lydia Wong.

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

Podcasters: Lynda Hong

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.
Podcasters: Lynda Hong
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

In Your Opinion

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

Podcaster: Lynda Hong

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.
Podcaster: Lynda Hong
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

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