You matched with an attractive guy on a dating app. You exchange a few messages and something feels promising. And then, almost immediately, something else kicks in. You start wondering if you're interesting and attractive enough to keep his attention.

There's a condition that affects gay men at disproportionate rates, shows up in gyms across every major city, and almost never gets named for what it is. Muscle dysmorphia is classified as a body dysmorphic disorder, but its relationship to disordered eating is close enough that the two are rarely separable in practice. From the outside, none of that is visible. It looks like dedication, discipline, and commitment to an active and healthy lifestyle.

Body image concerns are often portrayed as universal, yet they can show up in distinct ways for LGBTQ+ individuals. For many in the LGBTQ+ community, body image struggles intersect with identity, cultural expectations, and societal pressures in ways that can feel deeply personal—and incredibly isolating.

For many LGBTQ+ individuals, the upcoming Trump administration may bring up feelings of fear, uncertainty, and frustration. While you may not have control over political outcomes, you do have control over how you take care of yourself and respond to these challenges.