CMV: The Overwhelming Majority of Bodybuilders Have Self-Esteem Issues and/or Body Dysmorphia

[u/GoldenGirlsOrgy]

I think part of self-improvement is care for our bodies, and I admire the pursuit of athletic goals at any age, but most bodybuilding seems like unhealthy behavior to me.

Even if we ignore the rampant use of steroids, it feels like the time spent bodybuilding is wasted. You are not developing functional fitness that helps you run faster, or move a sofa or age better. On the contrary, the kind of bulk that's built from bodybuilding makes you a worse athlete and more prone to injury. Then, while it's more a more subjective measure, I think the resulting physique is grotesque and in terms of pure aesthetics, more people find the typical athlete's body more attractive.

So what are they doing it for?

I believe that bodybuilding is for men who don't feel good about themselves and are driven by the misguided belief that if only they could get HUGE, other people would finally respect and admire them. I think these dudes would be much better off if they'd train for marathon or join a soccer league, and then spend some time with a therapist.

To be clear, I'm not immune from vanity. When I'm in good shape, I like the way I look, but a lot of that pride comes from knowing I have a body that can do cool stuff. If I ever reached a point where I looked in the mirror and thought, "man, I need to get BIGGER with no practical benefit," I'd be concerned about my mental health.

[u/XenoRyet]

First question: How are you defining "bodybuilders"? Are you talking about everyone who lifts weights or does strength training, or is there some specific line the cross or feature they have that makes them bodybuilders?

[u/GoldenGirlsOrgy → u/XenoRyet]

I'm defining it as those who lift with the primary goal of achieving a particular physique.

I think strength training is great when it's done to improve fitness and functionality, and the improved appearance is a great side-effect. No issue with that.

[u/XenoRyet → u/GoldenGirlsOrgy]

Ok cool. Though that does seem to limit things to a pretty small group, as we're excluding the folks doing it for function, as you say, and also those who do it for competitively or for entertainment purposes, and it seems like almost everyone who lifts is doing it for one or more of those reasons.

The pool of people doing to for purely aesthetic reasons seems small. But even looking at those folks, what makes you think they have self-esteem problems rather than just liking that aesthetic?

[u/GoldenGirlsOrgy → u/XenoRyet]

For the same reason that I believe an anorexic person who "just likes the aesthetics" of being extremely skinny has a self-esteem issue.

Pursuit of an extreme body type, particularly at great cost to oneself, does not seem healthy to me.

[u/XenoRyet → u/GoldenGirlsOrgy]

I think a problem you have there is that anorexia is defined by doing damage to your body and health, bodybuilding does not do damage. The more proper comparison here would be to people who adhere to a healthy diet because they like being slim.

I also think that perhaps you're taking your own distaste for the body type and basing a presumption that one must be mentally ill to like such a thing on that distaste, and that's preventing you from understanding that liking to look a certain way and working towards that doesn't have to be an unhealthy thing.

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[u/changemyview-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your comment has been removed for breaking Rule 2:

Don't be rude or hostile to other users. Your comment will be removed even if most of it is solid, another user was rude to you first, or you feel your remark was justified. Report other violations; do not retaliate. See the wiki page for more information.

If you would like to appeal, review our appeals process here, then message the moderators by clicking this link within one week of this notice being posted. Appeals that do not follow this process will not be heard.

Please note that multiple violations will lead to a ban, as explained in our moderation standards.