The Dark World of Unrealistic Male Body Standards

Summary

The video script discusses the evolving concept of the 'perfect male physique' and its impact on society. It highlights how this ideal has shifted over time, influenced by media, Hollywood, and social platforms, leading to an unrealistic and often unhealthy standard. The narrative explores the extreme measures some men take to achieve this physique, including cosmetic surgery, steroid abuse, and crash diets, which can result in severe physical and mental health issues like body dysmorphic disorder. The script also touches on the role of marketing and the exploitation of cognitive biases in shaping these ideals. It concludes by stressing the importance of self-acceptance and a balanced approach to fitness and self-improvement, rather than striving for unattainable standards.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The concept of the 'perfect male physique' has evolved over time and is influenced by media and societal standards, which can lead to unrealistic expectations and unhealthy behaviors.
• 🌐 The internet and social media have globalized the ideal male body, leading to a homogenization of what is considered attractive, which intensifies the pressure to conform.
• 💊 Some men resort to extreme measures such as cosmetic surgery, limb lengthening, and even steroid abuse to achieve the perceived ideal body, which can have severe health consequences.
• 🤔 The script raises the question of whether the fitness industry and the portrayal of the male body in media are contributing to a systemic problem that affects mental and physical health.
• 📉 The rise of easily accessible performance-enhancing drugs and supplements, like those used by some Hollywood actors, has led to a normalization of potentially harmful substances among the general public.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The pursuit of an ideal physique can lead to disordered eating habits and body dysmorphic disorder, where individuals are never satisfied with their level of muscularity or leanness.
• 🧍‍♂️ The script discusses the 'Adonis complex', a term coined by Dr. Harrison Pope, which refers to extreme measures men take to achieve an unrealistic standard of physical attractiveness.
• 👶 There is a concerning trend of younger individuals, including children, engaging in potentially dangerous practices to alter their bodies, such as taking steroids or undergoing cosmetic surgeries.
• 📉 The fitness industry's focus on extreme body transformations can lead to a high failure rate and negative health outcomes, despite the industry's profitability.
• 💭 The script calls for a shift in awareness and a more balanced approach to self-improvement, emphasizing that mental well-being is just as important as physical appearance.
• 🌟 The video concludes by encouraging viewers to find a personal definition of the perfect male physique that is healthy and realistic, rather than one dictated by external pressures or false ideals.

Q & A

What is considered the perfect male physique according to the script?

The script suggests that the perfect male physique has evolved over time and varies across cultures, but in contemporary society, it has become increasingly lean and muscular, influenced by media and societal pressures.

What are some extreme measures that people are taking to achieve the ideal male physique?

The script mentions surgeries to add height, abdominal implants, injecting oil into muscles, and steroid abuse as some of the extreme measures people are taking.

What is the Adonis complex?

The Adonis complex is a term coined by Dr. Harrison Pope to describe a set of psychological issues where men have an unhealthy obsession with their body image, often driven by unrealistic standards set by the media.

How does social media contribute to the problem of unrealistic body standards?

Social media contributes by creating a highly competitive environment where only the most extreme physiques stand out, erasing cultural boundaries, and promoting homogenization of the ideal male physique.

What are some of the negative consequences of pursuing an unrealistic physique?

Negative consequences include the development of body dysmorphic disorder, eating disorders, steroid abuse, and in some cases, life-threatening health issues and even death.

How does the script relate the history of tobacco marketing to the current situation with body image ideals?

The script draws a parallel between Edward Bernays' propaganda and marketing tactics to reshape the cultural perception of smoking and the current manipulation of male body image ideals through media and advertising.

What is the role of cognitive biases in shaping our perceptions of attractiveness and health?

Cognitive biases such as the halo effect, social proof, and anchoring effect are exploited by media to create reference points that influence our perceptions of what is desirable, often leading to unrealistic and unhealthy standards.

Why is it important to be aware of the potential harm caused by unrealistic body standards?

Awareness is crucial because it can help prevent the adoption of harmful practices and the development of mental health issues related to body image, such as body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorders.

What does the script suggest as an alternative approach to self-improvement and body image?

The script suggests focusing on overall well-being and mental health, rather than just physical appearance, and promoting a more balanced and realistic approach to fitness and body image.

How does the script address the issue of young people taking extreme measures to alter their bodies?

The script highlights the dangers of young people taking puberty-altering drugs, undergoing cosmetic surgeries, and engaging in potentially harmful practices without fully understanding the consequences.

What is the significance of the script's mention of celebrities and influencers in the context of body image?

The script points out that even celebrities and influencers, who are often held up as ideals, struggle with body image issues and the pressures of maintaining an unrealistic physique, which underscores the importance of not using them as the sole standard for self-worth.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 The Perfect Male Physique: An Illusion?

The paragraph discusses the societal pressures and evolving ideals of the male physique, which have led to an increasing number of men and boys developing disordered relationships with their bodies and fitness. It highlights the influence of media, including health magazines and Hollywood, in shaping these ideals and the potential dangers of striving for an unattainable standard. The speaker emphasizes the importance of not comparing oneself to these unrealistic portrayals and understanding the systemic issues that contribute to this phenomenon.

05:01

💸 The Cost of Pursuing the 'Ideal' Body

This section delves into the financial and physical costs that individuals incur in their quest for an ideal physique. It covers the extreme measures some take, such as surgery for height increase and cosmetic procedures, and the psychological impact of body dysmorphia. The paragraph also touches on the use of supplements and steroids, the influence of Hollywood actors' extreme diets and workout routines, and the prevalence of eating disorders among celebrities. It raises concerns about the normalization of these practices and their impact on public health.

10:09

🚭 The Manipulation of Desire: Marketing and the Male Physique

The focus of this paragraph is on the historical use of marketing and psychological manipulation to create and sell an ideal male physique. It discusses Edward Bernays' use of his uncle Sigmund Freud's theories to change cultural perceptions and the role of advertising in shaping desires. The paragraph also explores how modern marketing exploits cognitive biases and insecurities, contributing to the rise of the fitness and beauty industries at the expense of mental and physical health.

15:13

📉 The Consequences of Unrealistic Standards

This section addresses the serious repercussions of pursuing unrealistic body standards, including the rise in obesity and suicide rates, and the psychological impact on both men and women. It introduces the term 'Adonis complex' to describe the extreme measures some men take to achieve an idealized body image. The paragraph also highlights the influence of social media and the internet on young people's perceptions of body image and the risks associated with the use of performance-enhancing drugs by teenagers.

20:19

🏋️‍♂️ Finding Balance: Challenging Unrealistic Expectations

The final paragraph emphasizes the importance of challenging unrealistic body standards and the need for a balanced approach to fitness and self-improvement. It features insights from celebrities who have spoken out against unsustainable practices and the dangers of body dysmorphic disorder. The speaker encourages viewers to focus on overall well-being rather than just physical appearance and to be aware of the influence of marketing and media on body image. The paragraph concludes with a call to action to share the video and promote a healthier dialogue around body image and self-improvement.

Keywords

💡Perfect male physique

The term 'perfect male physique' refers to an idealized body shape or form that is considered most attractive by societal standards. In the video, it is discussed how this ideal has evolved over time, influenced by media, and has become increasingly extreme, leading to a potential threat to the fitness industry and contributing to body dysmorphia among men.

💡Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental health condition where a person obsesses over perceived flaws in their appearance, which are often unnoticeable to others. The video highlights that this disorder is increasingly prevalent among men due to the unrealistic beauty standards promoted by media and society, leading to severe mental and physical health issues.

💡Cosmetic surgery

Cosmetic surgery refers to medical procedures that alter or enhance physical appearance for aesthetic reasons. The script discusses the rising trend of cosmetic surgery among men, including procedures like bone-shattering to increase height and muscle implants, which are driven by the pursuit of an unrealistic male physique.

💡Steroid abuse

Steroid abuse involves the misuse of anabolic steroids to enhance physical appearance or performance. The video mentions that some individuals, influenced by extreme body ideals, resort to steroid abuse, which can lead to serious health consequences and is often a response to societal pressures to conform to a certain body type.

💡Social media influence

Social media influence refers to the impact that social media platforms and their content have on individuals' perceptions, behaviors, and values. The script explores how social media can exacerbate the problem of unrealistic body standards by promoting images of 'perfection' and creating a highly competitive environment where only the most extreme physiques stand out.

💡Hyper masculinity

Hyper masculinity is a term used in the video to describe an exaggerated form of traditional male characteristics, particularly physical strength and muscularity. It is portrayed as a global phenomenon driven by media and societal expectations, which can lead to unhealthy behaviors and perceptions among men.

💡Bigorexia

Bigorexia, also known as muscle dysmorphia, is a type of body dysmorphic disorder where individuals are obsessed with the idea of not being muscular or lean enough, regardless of their actual size or fitness level. The video discusses how this condition can lead to excessive exercise, diet restrictions, and even surgery to achieve an idealized body image.

💡Cognitive biases

Cognitive biases are systematic errors in thinking that affect the judgments and decisions people make. The script explains that cognitive biases, such as the anchoring effect and the halo effect, are exploited by media and marketing to promote unrealistic body standards, which can influence individuals' perceptions of what is desirable or achievable.

💡Adonis complex

The Adonis complex is a term coined by Dr. Harrison Pope to describe a set of psychological issues related to men's concerns about their muscularity and physical attractiveness. The video uses this term to illustrate the severe consequences that can arise from societal pressures to conform to an unattainable body ideal.

💡Unhealthy obsession

An unhealthy obsession refers to an excessive or compulsive preoccupation with a particular subject or goal, to the point where it negatively impacts one's well-being. In the context of the video, it is used to describe the fixation some individuals develop towards achieving an ideal body image, which can lead to disordered eating, social isolation, and mental health issues.

💡Media manipulation

Media manipulation involves the use of deceptive techniques, such as Photoshop or selective presentation of information, to create a false or misleading impression. The script discusses how media manipulation contributes to the propagation of unrealistic body standards by presenting altered images of male physiques as the norm.

Highlights

The ideal male physique has evolved over time towards a leaner and more muscular look, driven by Hollywood and social media.

The global spread of this hypermasculine ideal is causing a rise in body dysmorphic disorder and disordered eating habits among men and boys.

Men are going to extreme lengths to achieve this ideal, including limb lengthening surgery, muscle implants, and steroid abuse.

Celebrities and influencers often use deceptive practices like Photoshop and crash dieting to project an unattainable image.

The fitness industry and media are exploiting cognitive biases like the halo effect and anchoring to manipulate perceptions of attractiveness.

This warped ideal is causing a rise in life-altering decisions and dangerous behaviors at increasingly younger ages.

The Adonis complex, a type of body dysmorphic disorder, is becoming more prevalent as men strive for an unrealistic standard of beauty.

Even those who appear to achieve the ideal physique often struggle with mental health issues and disordered relationships with food and exercise.

The fitness industry has a high failure rate in delivering effective advice, with many common beliefs contradicted by scientific evidence.

There is a clear disconnect between the media's portrayal of the ideal physique and the negative health outcomes associated with pursuing it.

The rise of cosmetic drugs and video manipulation technology is making it harder to separate social media from reality.

Hollywood's portrayal of masculinity has become increasingly unrealistic and extreme over time.

The pressure to conform to this ideal is leading to a rise in mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts related to body image.

The marketing industry has a history of exploiting insecurities and cognitive biases to drive consumer behavior.

The pursuit of an unattainable ideal is causing a lot of harm and suffering, with many people making drastic, life-altering decisions.

It's important to focus on self-improvement that enhances your life, rather than trying to fit into an unrealistic and unhealthy mold.

The perfect male physique is subjective and varies across cultures and time periods - there is no one-size-fits-all ideal.

The most important thing is to feel good and prioritize your mental and physical health over an arbitrary standard of beauty.

Transcripts

if you search Google for the perfect male physique  something interesting shows up the same for Men's  

Health this wasn't always the case now let me  close those tabs before I start getting strange  

looks again but many are calling this phenomenon  one of the biggest threats to the fitness industry  

and this isn't coming from people that just want  an excuse to be lazy unhealthy relationship with  

food I don't Court a banana I don't nor is it  coming from the give yourself a hug type people  

yeah they're they're cooking monster in fact the  People speaking out are heavily incentivized to  

shut up and smile and most do but the more you  listen the more you realize a harsh truth for an  

increasing number of men and boys this otherwise  benign desire to be more attractive transforms  

into something categorically disordered this is  a systemic problem to Taboo for television but a  

human brain isn't built to recognize often until  it's too late no there's no short secret recipe  

for it you know you just have to don't do this  at Iron Man I don't ever want to be Immaculate  

it's not it's not natural there's not many drug  use or abuse issues where you get complimented  

so much they see it on the small screen on their  phone they see it on the big screen in Hollywood  

movies it's in their hands when they're a [ __ ]  toddler so yeah I decided to start start trying  

don't compare yourself to these people because  they're probably lying to you anyway you need  

to pull your head out your ass and understand it  takes its toe it's not right is it I know it's  

not right but I can't say if I say that this is  going to stop so how did bodies this Mafia become  

so widespread and deadly but more importantly  why are more people speaking about this [Music]

what is the perfect male physique  for me growing up it was something  

like this health magazines suggests the  same over time this ideal has morphed  

towards something leaner and more muscular  trust me Hollywood films make this clear

similarly reality TV shows female dogs are  criticized for becoming unrealistic but male  

dolls are arguably even worse 1960s GI Joe  looks like he's about to unveil the iPhone  

30 years later he looks more like a bodybuilder  early Luke Skywalker besides modern Skywalker  

Batman besides more than Batman you get the  point if we ask AI to show us the ideal male  

physique a similar image is painted there's  a clear ideal becoming more and more extreme  

so what are we seeing here these are the men at  the Woody B tribe showing their slender bodies  

white teeth and eyes and a beauty pageant to  win the attention of the female judges this is  

what the peak male looks like in the bodai tribe  where the men compete to be the fattest ancient  

Greek statues depict a lean muscular body is  desirable while traditional Japanese culture  

Associates masculinity with self-discipline  loyalty and honor to identify the physical  

ideal we need to understand what beauty is the  Oxford dictionary defines it as the quality of  

being pleasing to the senses or to the mind and  looking across different cultures the ideal seems  

to vary and change over time social media and  the internet have erased cultural boundaries and  

created a highly competitive environment  where only the most extreme stand out  

this emphasis on leanness and muscularity isn't  just a western thing it's gone Global we are  

witnessing the homogenization of the ideal male  physique or some refer to as hyper masculinity

even society's ideal men seem to be getting stuff  done to achieve this there has been a lot of talk  

about you know red pill and self-improvement  creating your hyper masculine character  

looking like you swallowed a shovel is  probably not the answer the psychology  

that somehow would have led to this guy thinking  he needs a jaw implant or something I can't even  

fathom a self-improvement can absolutely go  too far we aren't just talking Greek statue  

physiques that was passed long ago from  facial Aesthetics to height and muscle  

definition some of the methods men are using to  achieve such ideals you might find disturbing  

that smile you see is from a man who just had his  bone shattered in a surgery to add two inches to  

his height a painful procedure that more and  more men are getting although Mukesh recorded  

the physical pain at a 9 out of ten he stated  it was less than the emotional pain he felt when  

people mocked him for his height we'll get rid of  those love handles because other men are getting  

abdominal implants with some injecting oil into  their muscles each year over 2 million Americans  

have cosmetic surgery a number that's Rising  With Many trying to achieve an instant boost in  

muscularity total spent on my body modifications  is 950 000 US Dollars now people can do as a  

please but for many one cycle or surgery is Never  Enough bigoraxia is a dysmorphia people have where  

they never see themselves as muscular enough  already I'm very curious as to why my voice is  

thicker than usual proper chestnuts work why is  my voice so thick my arms are sound big enough in  

comparison to my to my chest and my back of course  this can lead them down a path of steroid abuse  

when I was 15 I did something crazy that changed  my life forever and with the rise of start like  

compounds readily available to buy on the  internet many teenagers are shutting down  

their hormones for a more muscular physique do I  take any supplements as a 15 year old bodybuilder  

yes let me show what it take I'm currently on 50  milligrams a day of rag 140. so 25 milligrams a  

day of mk677 you might argue these people are  just morons however some of the methods used  

in Hollywood are also questionable people I was  eating so much chicken breasts the hardest part  

about it was actually chewing and all so I would  just put it into a blender blend it all up and  

just drink Chicken in fact to achieve his Physique  in Baywatch Zac Efron was also taking powerful  

diuretics to dry himself out when I was done with  that movie I don't ever want to be in that good of  

shape again really I don't think it's surprising  that many people struggle with disordered eating  

habits like Freddie flintoff who developed  bulimia I became known as a fat cricketer really

that's when I started doing it you  put your fingers down your throar as  

you gag your bite into your hands so hard the  wrenching to get it out it's not right is it  

I know it's not right but I can't  say for sure that this is gonna stop  

if you can look past the airbrush marketing and  Hollywood magic eating an exercise disorders  

among celebrities are everywhere so if I'm gonna  get a girlfriend I gotta have a six-pack and so  

I thought that if I didn't eat anything well I  wouldn't get any fat and then if I worked out a  

ton I would get big and muscular meanwhile some  of the biggest influences are using Photoshop  

video shop and other deceptive practices to stand  out on social media here in the western cultures  

there has always been a tradition of muscularity  but in the last several decades this emphasis on  

male muscularity seems to have accelerated  no matter where you look this can be seen  

yeah nobody wants to admit it so where could this  change be coming from and what could be driving it

over time the Hollywood betrayal of the ideal  man seems to be getting more and more muscular  

so when I get to Orange is the New Black uh for  that for the first shirtless scene I definitely  

did some unhealthy crash dieting and being a  TV long enough I'll tell you this is something  

that almost all actors and actresses do for  these shirtlessings they often achieve their  

physiques for aggressive crash dieting at  the expense of their physical health to  

meet Hollywood's demands it's a couple hours  a day and it was it was brutal uh the tricky  

part was eating the same occurs in Bollywood  so putting on the weed was fun I could eat and  

drink whatever I wanted and have a great time  and I had a ball I have to say I had a ball but  

it was also most uncomfortable even my wrestling  training was affected because I was carrying so  

much weight that I couldn't really move fast  enough this was a silver era of bodybuilding  

this is the gold era and this is today with many  bodybuilders displaying bubble gut you're ripped

on the show receive bellies and if they want  to do that they go to modernity water something  

like that and they can see plenty of stomach still  colomboism is a side effect of heavy steroid usage

probably I don't need to tell you a similar  physical progression can be seen in reality TV  

seriously it's like you're photoshopped this  is Jason Momoa Aquaman his physique labeled  

as a dad board same thing for an off-season  bodybuilder Chris Bumstead can you write to this  

guy specifically done time can't see him oh part  of me wants to put these warped ideals down to  

improving knowledge resources and just a natural  result of increased competition but the rise of  

cosmetic drugs technology to manipulate videos and  a super competitive social media environment where  

people only post their highlight reels it can be  difficult to separate social media from reality  

but others have argued there's a darker  side you see some people profit immensely  

of these warped ideals an invisible  hand sounds very tin for hearts but  

to understand this perspective we need to  go deeper the man who wrote the book on  

propaganda and shaped the world of  marketing as we know it [Applause]  

1920 women didn't smoke it was extremely taboo a  masculine thing to do there's a terrible by men  

that does not permit women to smoke  either in public or even at home  

of course the tobacco industry wasn't happy  missing out on 50 of potential customers  

everything they tried to do to appeal to the  female demographic failed they simply wouldn't  

buy based on rational reasons presented the stigma  was too much to overcome when Along came a young  

marketer Edward Bernays he had a secret weapon  knowledge passed down by his note or Uncle the  

father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud believed  that much of human decision making was driven by  

unconscious and irrational impulses often  resulting in excess and over compensation  

benays decided to apply his uncle's theories  to Market him he didn't need to appeal to the  

individual woman and the rational benefits  of smoking he needed to completely reshape  

the cultural perception of smoking so he hired  a group of women a big event told them to light  

up cigarettes with photographers ready to take  photos of them these ladies weren't just lighting  

cigarettes but torches of Freedom demonstrating  their ability to assert their independence he  

had staged a political protest to invoke the right  emotions in the woman next morning there wasn't a  

newspaper in the United States even in New York  Times and a front plate story debutants light  

torches of freedom to protest man's inhumanity  to women by a taboo against smoking it worked  

Bernays were going to use trick after trick after  trick in the marketing and political world he  

wrote the book on propaganda and set the path  of much of the advertising you see today with  

companies hiring psychoanalysts to capitalize  on this new approach to marketing a shift from  

need to desire in a post-war America Modern Men  quite often tries to work off his frustrations  

by spending on self-gratification model man is  eternally ready to fill out his self-image by  

purchasing products which complement and what  better way to improve one's self-image than  

through your own body Vogue magazine invented  cellulite a perfectly normal thing turned into  

a condition marketers went hard tapping into the  insecurities of women driving the massive growth  

of the beauty industry buy this to be good  enough was an extremely powerful message is  

it wrong to give people what they want by taking  away their defenses but much like with cigarettes  

Marcus has realized they're missing 50 of their  potential customers only this time it was the men

thank you

much like with the Creative Marketing of lung  cancer sticks this is not always in your best  

interest and after many iterations these  standards what people want is become more  

and more unrealistic advertising lives or dies  by its Commercial Success an insecurity cells

the human brain has evolved over millions of  years and isn't built to deal with the rapid  

rise of the internet whether intentional or not  the display of unrealistic and deceptive ideals  

in the media exploit our cognitive biases  often to the detriment of both mental and  

physical health it's why some of the  most mainstream Fitness advice is the  

least effective I don't know who still needs to  hear this but you do not Target fat around your  

stomach with specific exercises 8 million  views oh let's ask the average person what  

they think let stop asking the average person  you know you're stupid the average person is

this is known as the dunning-kruger effect  where people with low experience in an area  

tend to overestimate their ability or knowledge  regardless of how smart you are if you're part  

of the human species you're susceptible to  your cognitive biases being exploited you

things that don't make any sense but you look at  them and you're like holy crap he looks amazing  

I'm gonna do what he's doing this is the halo  effect where people who are considered attractive  

tend to be rated higher on other positive traits  as well if you were to look at this podcast there  

is this some cheap [ __ ] Joe that's the [ __ ]  bro you see that curtain down the back fats and  

meats and never eating carbs but the way that  he's tried to mimic the guest position on Joe  

Rogan you [ __ ] piece of [ __ ] social proof is  another where simply a large following can make  

a person more trustworthy by presenting a certain  body type or standard as the norm marketers create  

a reference point that influences our perceptions  of what is desirable the anchoring effect this an  

array of other blind spots is what the media  Taps into often those people on social media  

in magazines and on the big screen are just Hawks  in the machine at the start this was more blatant  

and easier to identify today it's all around us  often with no Escape don't get me wrong I'm down  

for super effective marketing that helps people  live healthier lives but no other industry has  

such a high failure rate of being so profitable  I can't help but think back to the many people  

getting life-altering surgeries developing eating  disorders and a lot of the negative side effects  

we haven't even discussed yet meanwhile obesity  and suicide rates are on the rise in America and  

a recent poll found that one in eight UK adults  have Suicidal Thoughts related to body image  

there's a very clear disconnect in fact have  a psychiatrist warned about this over 20 years  

ago I don't think even here relations how  serious and widespread this will become

the many problems men have of their warped  physical self-perception was grouped under an  

umbrella by Dr Harrison Pope the Adonis complex  Adonis was half man half God according to Greek  

mythology visual Perfection the god of beauty  and attraction Dr Pope has documented cases of  

men quitting prestigious jobs people smashing  their own faces with a hammer to qualify for  

plastic surgery and others dying and disordered  diet and exercise regiments although these are  

extreme examples this was over 20 years ago and  we've seen many more cases since Pope suspects  

unrealistic standards driven by the media is  what's fueled the rise of the Adonis complex  

yes I've done steroids but here's the catch  when beauty is so subjective the ideals were  

extreme the effects are fatal today's  children are growing up the internet as  

a Quantum presence in their lives with little  knowledge of a world without it and the harmful  

effects of unrealistic body standards are evident  through the growing list of casualties [Music]  

I'm a 14 year old and I'm thinking about taking 50  milligrams of deca per week for four weeks I know  

about the side effects on adults but not in teens  is there any side effects I should know I'm a 16  

year old boy currently undergoing cosmetic limb  lengthening surgery I don't think I know what's  

best for me yet but I absolutely cannot see myself  regressing this decision sometimes unorthodox and  

drastic Solutions are the best ones I'm 15 years  old and recently found out about Psalms my goal is  

to gain more muscle and get leaner I'm 5'11 and  145 pounds currently my main concern is whether  

or not I should take legandrel considering my  age these are just a few people on public forums  

about to make life-altering decisions with  many going through with it so yeah I decided  

to start start training whoa dude what did you  just say we're witnessing extremely young kids  

take puberty altering performance enhancing drugs  with parents suspected to be giving it to their  

children as young as six for a chance to make it  in Hollywood there's not many drug use or abuse  

issues where you get complimented so much I'm  trying to do things more naturally a suffering  

I know I look like complete rubbish right when  you train every single day for like two hours  

do a lot of steps get like four hours sleep you  have no team to support you and everything is  

being done just by you it takes its toll in  life there is this feeling that we all live  

with inadequacy there is this call to achieve and  to go beyond all expectations to outperform other  

people to measure oneself against the panoply of  influencers and gurus to work ridiculously long  

hours Scots was one of the more wholesome Fitness  YouTubers doing much the things we see Hollywood  

boast about yet it seems to have contributed to  his early death but I've set it up you're going  

to think I'm gonna grow up I see it I remember  seeing a 19 year old die of a heart attack in  

the local paper four different steroids were found  in this system which was suspected in large heart  

a contributing factor similarly to bodybuilder  Dallas mccava who collapsed on stage recovered  

and sadly passed away with her heart and was  three times the size it should have been a lot  

of people are speculating how much testosterone  was this guy actually injecting together 55 000  

nanogram per deciliter Total Tea there's tributes  on YouTube for all of the bodybuilders who pass  

away each year the age is getting lower someone  is literally going to have to die on stage before  

something changes in bodybuilding maybe these are  extreme cases but if you actually listen to what  

the very celebrities many look up to as saying a  very different side gets presented it's hard to  

look like even if you do work out to be that kind  of in shape is is not it's not natural the way  

they achieve their Rapid Transmissions is often  highly unsustainable for guys that's unrealistic  

I'm telling you Zac Efron actually went through  a phase of depression and insomnia after his  

brutal drug assisted crushed Baywatch regiment  Channing Tatum Luke Jackson Ed Sheeran Tyson Fury  

developed Eating Disorders Anna warned about their  unsustainable practices I started noticing it for  

the first time when I just started rebelling  against a gym and these people are the top  

coaches and doctors at their side truly I don't  know how people that work in nine to five actually  

stay in shape because it's my full-time job and I  can barely do it when studies are suggesting the  

majority of men are now displaying signs of body  dysmorphic disorder is it's an issue that's hard  

to ignore but because of a stigma speaking about  this seeking help or even thinking about it is  

seen as weak with many willing to end their lives  or pin themselves because help isn't as much and  

even those who look the best aren't immune to  this because everything is subjective I look at  

the normal reasonable human being with like an  acceptable amount of like muscle tone right but  

still in my head there was like this crazy just  Distortion body dysmorphia this doesn't mean you  

shouldn't find people in great shape motivating  just that even your favorite Idols get older  

and struggle with these things yeah it doesn't  get much coverage because it's not as glamorous

resistance training and having high goals  isn't inherently pathological I have respect  

for anyone who achieves an impressive body  transmission especially if done honestly  

however unrealistic body standards can have  deadly consequences regardless of where you  

think this stems from many pointer Hollywood  actors supplement companies dolls and clothing  

companies I get why some people want to see  the fitness industry burn to the ground but  

pitchforking individuals stealing kids Power  Rangers probably isn't the answer it's just

little plastic doll nor is polarizing people with  men or women have it worse arguments there is no  

them in us the market decides what sticks so  Mass awareness is a big part of the solution  

you vote with your money and attention this  isn't necessarily better than this nor is  

this than this and definitely not this or this  it's up to you to discover what you really want  

and not have others decide this for you Dr Pope  suggests the following as potential Outlets if  

you get caught up personally I still go to the  gym while I'll never look crazy it's been very  

satisfying to get closer to a goal that I had as  a kid especially considering I don't think it's  

an unhealthy Obsession anymore ironically with  progress being the best once I chilled out and  

focus on other things I realized the hard way  that looking good means nothing if you don't  

feel good if you ever try to get in shape please  understand this it's all I'm trying to get across  

in the video I don't often ask but sharing this  video wherever you can would really help a lot  

self-improvement is supposed to enhance yourself  as a person not replace yourself so the perfect  

male physique based on the evidence it never  existed it's what you believe it is I just  

hope trying to get there for you isn't  as deadly as it's been for so many people

hey everyone so if you like this video  we're currently working on plenty more  

so if you want to be notified when they're  out then please subscribe this video was  

not anti-fitness unrealistic expectations  body dysmorphia and disorder behaviors are  

massively overlooked hurdles when it comes to  getting in shape whatever this means for you  

I personally know how frustrating it is trying to  live the life of a hardcore bodybuilder or making  

the progress of a 10 year old one of the areas I  struggled with the most was eating out and doing  

so with some degree of flexibility so this is why  I put together a free guide to help you do so it's  

something I really needed when I first started  it's how I and many others make more progress  

while eating the foods we actually enjoy but more  importantly doing so with our law of the guilt I  

love these dark gimps leave you with so if you're  interested I'll leave a link in the description  

but as always thanks for watching and  I'll see you in the next one [Music]