New research reveals that 43% of the UK have received or know someone who has received online abuse directed at how their body looks, with a study revealing the negative impact this can have on people’s body confidence.

Better revealed, in a survey of 2,000 respondents, that 1 in 2 overall (and 81% of 18–24-year-olds) have also experienced at least one sign of body dysmorphia, including thinking often about making their body muscular or lean enough, exercising despite illness or injury, feeling anxiety due to a missed workout, giving up work obligations or social activities due to exercise, or maintaining an extreme exercise plan.

It also found that 31% say low body confidence has affected their social life, 30% say it has troubled their love life and 27% say it has impacted their mental health.

Previous research from Better found that on an average week, most people spend between 1-4 hours exercising, with 1 in 3 saying noticing physical changes from their workouts had the biggest positive impact on their body confidence, highlighting how exercise and a healthy lifestyle can aid in building a better body image.

With International Men’s Day drawing focus issues around men’s mental health, male suicide rates and other important areas of stigma in society, the study interestingly revealed the specific impact body image has on men and the conversation around body image and mental health, which can often be overlooked.