There is a mental health crisis plaguing the fitness industry. Body dysmorphia rates are on the rise alongside the rates of depression and anxiety. Unrealistic body standards and bullying within the industry have given rise to eating disorders and substance misuse. What should be a healthy part of life has become a source of stress for many.
Unrealistic Body Standards
Our perceptions of ourselves have a lot to do with the media we consume. Movies and advertisements often set cultural standards of beauty and we can see how the trends have changed over the years. Women are shown to be thin but curvy with little muscle. Men are shown to be extremely muscular – often more than what is achievable naturally. We all know about the “Hollywood magic” that goes into making actors and actresses look “perfect”. Knowing this does not prevent us from subconsciously comparing ourselves. Moreover, most of us do not view social media as critical of an eye. Influencers edit their own photos more than we know. Young people are especially vulnerable to influence when viewing this media and may not even realize they are comparing themselves to a body that doesn’t even exist.
These unrealistic body standards create many issues. Those who do not fit the perceived appearance of “fit” are bullied. Even those who are extremely athletic have the message of not being “good enough” reinforced. Both external and internal pressures can also lead to individuals going to extreme measures to get their desired results.
Anorexia, Bigorexia, and Bulimia
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a condition in which an individual becomes excessively critical of their physical appearance. This results in high levels of stress which can lead to unhealthy habits to combat these thoughts.
Anorexia, an eating disorder in which an individual will heavily restrict caloric intake to maintain a low body weight, is perhaps one of the most known conditions. This is one of the many issues commonly seen in the fitness community – especially among women.
One of the lesser known conditions that primarily impacts men is bigorexia. With bigorexia, an individual becomes obsessed with achieving more muscle mass and having a more “ripped” appearance. Practices that come from this obsession can include caloric restriction, like in anorexia, in order to lower body fat and thus making muscles appear more defined. However, some may take the opposite approach and overeat in order to put on as much weight for muscle building as possible. Both extremes can wreak havoc on both physical and mental wellbeing.
Bulimia is often thought of as making yourself vomit after eating in order to either maintain a certain caloric intake or as a form of punishment for eating something “bad”. While this is one example, there is another form of bulimia that is often encouraged by fitness influencers – exercise bulimia. In this form of bulimia, individuals will exercise to extremes that are detrimental to their health. Again, the purpose of this type of purge is to either punish oneself for what they ate or to “work off” the calories they consumed. Not only can this physically put you at risk for injury, but this thought process creates an unhealthy relationship with food.
Our relationship with the food we eat is important as it fuels us and allows us to function in everyday activities. Instead, many find stress in calorie counting and sticking to a diet. Quantifying every little thing we eat to the point of obsession takes energy and focus. While it is important to exercise and have a healthy diet, expecting perfection is unrealistic and sets us up for a negative self-image.
Steroid Misuse
Anabolic steroids have become a hot debate within the fitness community in recent years. These steroids, different from the ones prescribed to combat allergic reactions, mimic the hormone testosterone. Those on steroids are able to put on more muscle quicker than what is possible for someone building a natural physique. Steroids also allow users to recover quicker meaning they can get back in the gym quicker. However, steroid use comes with massive risks. Many studies have shown that those who use anabolic steroids are at increased risk for heart disease, kidney disease, strokes, and more. Additionally, steroids can cause severe mood swings and aggression, commonly known as “roid rage”. Stacking, or using more than one kind of steroid at a time, is a common practice that further increases these risks. Young people can find themselves experimenting with these before knowing all the risks to their long-term health and once you start, it is not so easy to stop.
While steroids do not create a high and are therefore not addictive in the sense many people think of when talking about substance misuse, there are other factors that make them addictive. Much like how melatonin supplements can impact your body’s ability to produce its own melatonin, anabolic steroids can impair your body’s ability to produce testosterone naturally. This means stopping steroids suddenly can cause withdrawal and complications due to low testosterone. Instead, users must slowly reduce the dose – preferably under the guidance of a health professional. The other addictive component is mental. Seeing the results you want can be euphoric. Instead of being satisfied with reaching this goal, some individuals will find themselves chasing that euphoric feeling again. They will keep pushing themselves to become bigger and increase the dosage. For some, this will create a never ending cycle of addiction.
Reestablishing Healthy Fitness
Exercise is supposed to be good for us. Moderate exercise increases heart health, allows us to stay mobile as we age, and serves as an outlet for stress. So how do we get back to viewing exercise like this instead of a source of stress and a gateway to bad habits?
To begin with, we have to follow research – not fads. This is especially true when it comes to dieting and supplements. Individuals just beginning their fitness journeys often feel overwhelmed by all the trends and information. Many trends are pushed by the business side of the fitness industry. New supplements and exercise programs are promoted by influencers who are selling them. While some of these products may be good, many are not backed by science. Do your research before experimenting. Chasing the trends can be stressful and is not the way to get the results you want.
Along the same line, we need to redefine healthy. So much of what we think is healthy has to do with physical appearances but this is not always the case. As we explored earlier in this post, many athletes and fitness enthusiasts struggle with invisible health issues. Instead of defining healthy or fit by looks, we need to turn to research and statistics to realize what are actually good measurements of health. Taking a look at multiple factors and not just the number on the scale gives us a clearer picture of our whole being. Examining the factors we can control (and recognizing which ones we can’t) helps ease the stress that has taken over the industry.
Recognizing individual factors can also help combat unrealistic expectations. Our bodies are complicated, just like our minds. Some individuals will build muscle easier than others. Some will lift more and some will run faster. While we can do things to improve on these goals, there are certain limits we all have – and that is perfectly fine! Many fitness programs have cookie cutter advice that does not take personal factors in place. There has been a movement with some trainers taking on a more individual approach. This helps clients get better results and can help shift the perspective of the community, allowing us to realize that we are all different.
Finally, something we can all do right now to help our personal fitness journey is to develop our own supportive networks. As we discussed earlier, the online face of the fitness industry can be hostile. If you are on social media, make sure you follow creators who spread positive messages and encourage newcomers. Build your own support team by working out with a friend who will safely help you push your limits while providing positive reinforcement. If you are experienced in the gym, look for ways to make the space more friendly to beginners. Be respectful and supportive of those around you and demonstrate the kind of culture you want to see.
For more information on mental health issues in the fitness industry please see the following resources…
Anabolic Steroid Withdrawal And Detox (Addiction Center)
Frequently Asked Questions About Eating Disorders (John Hopkins Medicine)
Rising dysmorphia among adolescents (National Library of Medicine)
The Perfect Storm: A Developmental–Sociocultural Framework for the Role of Social Media in Adolescent Girls’ Body Image Concerns and Mental Health (National Library of Medicine)