Gym Goals and Social Roles with Kyle Ganson

In this episode, Professor Kyle Ganson joins us in discussing his research paper, ““Eat more protein, build more muscle”: A grounded theory study of muscle-building behaviors among Canadian adolescents and young adults.” He shares insights from interviews conducted with young adults, shedding light on the distinct phases they often go through in their muscle-building journeys. Through this conversation, we gain a deeper understanding of the individual experiences related to exercise, health, and the powerful influence of our social and cultural environments.

Kyle Ganson is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. His research focuses on eating disorders, muscle dysmorphia, and muscle-building behaviours among adolescents and young adults, particularly boys and young men. Dr. Ganson has over 10 years of direct clinical social work practice experience and is the principal investigator of the Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviors.