In today’s fitness culture, the ravaging desire for the perfect body type has become a dream worth sacrificing everything for. Especially in the fitness community, increasing Steroid Abuse has become an obvious problem, which is further aggravated by toxic masculine standards in male fitness domains like gyms and the subsequent unattainable body expectations of men. It is not only dangerous for physical well-being but also a reinforcement of the toxic ideas of masculinity and self-esteem.
Hypermasculinity and the Gym Culture
Hypermasculine-dominant gym culture asserts that muscles, strength and a well-built muscular body represent the most attractive, ideal image of a man. This culture bomb forces men to chase unrealistic physique goals, making them switch to anabolic steroids. These substances claim to produce muscle mass gains and fat loss at a tremendous rate, a form of bodily abuse that is glorified in the name of toxic gym culture and masculinity.
However, this obsession with the masculine stereotype disregards the severe risks associated with the use of anabolic steroids. Health problems associated with steroids are serious and long-term, they include cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases and hormonal disorders. In addition, these drugs cause some psychological disorders such as aggressiveness, mood swings, and depression, which add to the challenges of the desire for an ideal body.
Analysis of the Fitness Industry on Men
Currently, the fitness industry is a major influence when it comes to the use of steroids in bodybuilding. Men on social media platforms are surrounded by images which depict unrealistic body standards, which are attained by using anabolic steroids. These images reinforce the misconception that additional measures are required to achieve the ‘ideal’ body.
Such a persistent promotion of male body image issues leads many into the unhealthy realm of steroids in fitness. The youths’ health and sexuality are at stake as they risk their lives to fit into this mould of what a man should be.
The Dangers of Steroid Use
Steroids are usually sold as shortcuts for those who want to become bodybuilders or gain the ‘perfect’ muscular body. However, the dangers of anabolic steroids are much worse than the benefits that people think they can get from using them. Some of the dangers include:
Cardiovascular Problems:
Steroids are known to cause heart attacks and strokes.
Liver Damage:
It has been reported that chronic use of the drug may cause serious liver disorders.
Hormonal Disruption:
Such drugs have side effects such as; sterility, low testosterone levels and gynecomastia which is the development of breast tissue in males.
Psychological Effects:
Side effects include aggression, or “roid rage”, and anxiety and depression.
In addition to health risks related to physical and mental well-being, steroid addiction in bodybuilding aggravates them. Most of the users become hooked and cannot let go even when the risks are rising.
How Hypermasculinity Leads to Steroid Use in Fitness
It is quite clear that steroids are associated with toxic masculinity. Hypermasculinity enshrines the notion that men should be willing to be aggressive with their bodies rather than being healthy. This narrative is well embedded in the fitness culture and promotes using these substances to achieve such expectations.
The use of steroids due to the popularity of bodybuilding proves that in today’s society, people measure their value by their physical appearance. Most men turn to steroids because they are convinced that it is impossible to build muscular and powerful bodies as portrayed in media and bodybuilding forums. There is a heavy emphasis on outward appeal and looks rather than one's health and well-being.
Ideal Body Image Standards and Its Effects on Men
The unattainable male body image leads to the development of steroid use in bodybuilding as a result of the unhealthy cycle of body image issues. Such standards, which cannot be naturally achieved, force people to sacrifice their health for some temporary gains. In the long run, this results in severe health complications such as the irreversible damage of major organs in the body.
Fitness culture has pushed men to become confident in themselves. Still, it is also important to acknowledge that the toxic part of fitness culture plays a big part in the normalization of steroids. As a result of promoting such a culture, young men are encouraged to jump into the violent and aggressive aspects of unhealthy expressions of masculinity, which in turn leads to the increased use of steroids and pushes them towards the dangers that come with it.
Breaking the Cycle: A Call for Change
It would take an active, collective effort to challenge the dichotomy of society that has brought these hyper-masculine ideals into gym culture and must be addressed. Critical steps in this direction include education about the health risks associated with anabolic steroids and promoting realistic, sustainable fitness goals.
Authenticity and transparency must be given the highest priority to fitness influencers, trainers and all spheres of the fitness industry since health is more important than appearance. Additionally, these conversations about masculinity and body image issues that are ongoing alongside the toxic gym culture that promotes steroid use, can help dismantle that culture that promotes steroid use in the first place.
The Way Forward
Hypermasculine fitness culture is evolving and must shift focus to holistic well-being. It encourages men to appreciate their natural body types instead of perpetuating the cycle of short-term fixes that only provide short-term improvements to their looks. Rather, we should encourage longer-term health improvements and fitness goals that are aligned with our body types, diet, routines and medical history.
If we confront these pressures around steroid use that makeup so much of the bodybuilding world, we may diminish the impact of steroids on the men who do it. It is about time we reinvented how we define fit and strong, showcasing our diversity and uniqueness versus negating unreachable ideals.
Finally, steroid use in fitness is symptomatic of a larger, cultural problem derived from hypermasculinity and toxic gym culture. We can work towards a fitness culture that is based on raising awareness of the health risks of anabolic steroids and also making people realise that unrealistic body standards for men are not the way to be healthy.