Buzz
Most people have a basic understanding of what can make us healthier: engaging in some strength training, consuming more vegetables, perhaps losing a bit of fat, and occasionally doing cardio. However, that doesn't mean someone who takes these activities to an extreme is truly healthy. Even if they appear fit as a result.
This applies not only to influencers showcasing their bodies on social media but also to athletes, even the most successful ones. Olympic medals are not awarded to those living the healthiest lifestyles while excelling at sports—they go to those who can lift the most weight, run the fastest, or score the most points.
In an interview, pro bodybuilder Chris Bumstead expressed agreement with this view, referencing the injuries sustained by hockey players, and then shared his thoughts about the dangers of his own sport.
You’re pushing your body to the extreme, constantly stressing your joints and reducing your body fat to unhealthy levels multiple times a year for competitions. It’s what makes our efforts so impressive, sparks interest from viewers, and makes us elite athletes... But no, this isn’t healthy. We’re pushing our limits.
Bodybuilders don’t just lift incredibly heavy weights—they also follow strict diets that affect their hormones and metabolism. As they fine-tune their physique for the stage, they lose strength, and often dehydrate themselves as a final step. After performing in shows and doing photo shoots, they reverse the process. Steroid use is common, as are mental health challenges related to food and body image.
While both male and female professional bodybuilders take these practices to extremes, the same methods often shape the muscular, ripped, or 'toned' appearances we see on social media or in movies. Actors are frequently celebrated for undergoing rapid body transformations for a role, but we seldom question how they achieve this. After all, acting isn’t a drug-tested sport.
The truth is, just because someone has a lot of muscle, very little body fat, or both, doesn’t mean they’re healthy. It also doesn’t mean that buying their workout plan or supplements will give you the same results. In addition to the methods mentioned, many of the bodies you see online are digitally enhanced with Photoshop or altered through surgery. Butt implants, for instance, are real, and it's likely that some influencers promoting 'booty workouts' have had them.
The struggle between health and performance extends far beyond physical appearance. Those at the top of any sport often sacrifice everything else in life to excel at the one thing that earns them or their team points. It’s not unusual for the pursuit of greatness (or YouTube fame) to lead to eating disorders, complications from performance-enhancing drugs, or even serious injuries.
Who do you think will be healthier at 50: a retired NFL player with a history of injuries and concussions, or someone who played football in high school and then moved on to other pursuits? A model with visible abs and extremely low body fat—at least for now—or a woman who’s 20 pounds heavier but eats normally and works out a few times a week? And who’s more likely to have better mental health: an Olympic athlete whose life centers around training and whose career depends on performing well in a few high-pressure competitions, or a recreational athlete who can take rest days whenever needed?
If you are an athlete or a model, or if that’s a goal of yours, you might feel some of these sacrifices are worth it. Even at a recreational level, many of us make choices for our sport that may not be ideal for our long-term health. But let’s not confuse success in sports or getting likes on Instagram with maintaining a body that functions well over time.
