‘Gym culture’ can cause body dysmorphia, eating disorders in teens
Gym memberships among teens have risen in the past ten years, due to increased exposure via social media, the COVID-19 pandemic increasing leisure time, and gyms becoming more accessible. The physical benefits of exercise are well known, with increased brain health, disease reduction, and lower cholesterol among the noteworthy advantages.
Exercise has undeniable positive effects on mental health as well, aiding in the reduction of anxiety and depression, the promotion of interpersonal relationships, improved self-esteem, and overall mental health.
Often, teenagers are motivated to start exercising because of these well-known benefits, but as they spend more time in the gym, they might come to notice some unexpected side effects. I spoke to a handful of ARHS students who experienced increased levels of body dysmorphia after going to the gym, and some engaged in practices that could be considered disordered eating.
One senior (who asked to be anonymous), started working out in his room during COVID to improve his self-esteem. Once he felt confident enough to tackle working out in a public gym, he purchased a membership to Hampshire Athletic Club.
At first, Mike (pseudonym) spent his time playing basketball, but after being exposed to gym influencers on TikTok, he became obsessed with looking like them, so he started lifting weights.
The constant exposure to these unattainable physiques undeniably affects young lifters’ psyche. “You get a false perception [of what you should look like],” said Mike. “You know, they all use oil and lighting in their pictures and crazy supplements to make them look better.”
While the most common negative effect of gym influencers is to make those they influence feel body dysmorphia, sometimes the effect of exposure to unattainable standards can be more drastic.
“Social media makes me want to take steroids,” said Anthony (pseudonym), another senior. His biggest role models are the Tren Twins, identical brothers who rose to popularity on YouTube and Tiktok. The “Tren” in their name, is short for Trenbolone, an anabolic steroid originally created to increase muscle mass in cattle.
Trenbolone now joins the legion of options that are available on the internet for athletes’ use. The use of these steroids has led to a “Natural or Not” phenomenon on social media, where viewers try to guess if athletes are achieving their results with its help or not.
In fact, gym influencers rarely admit to taking performance-enhancing drugs. New gym-goers are often comparing themselves to someone who may have a physique that can only be achieved via steroids.
Another phenomenon made widespread by social media is the idea of “bulking” and “cutting.” Essentially, “bulking” involves eating a calorie surplus to gain muscle mass, while “cutting” is the opposite, where you eat in a calorie deficit, to lose body fat.
The ARHS seniors that I interviewed did partake in this lifestyle: “Bulking, it’s just an excuse to eat a shit ton. It’s pretty good,” said Mike. “And you get bigger and stronger. And then, in a couple of weeks, I’ll start my ‘cut’ to have a beautiful summer body for the summer.”
Even language people like Mike use to describe themselves can be dysmorphic, with him also critically referring to himself as “fat” or “pretty large” during this phase and calling this weight gain “unfortunate.”
As you can see, this lifestyle develops an obsession with body appearance and eating habits, with a focus on aesthetics rather than nutrition or overall health.
Those engaging in the practices know they are skirting the edge of danger. “People will cut too far,” said one. “And get eating disorders. It’s unhealthy if you push it too far.”
A recent story in Medical News Today called ‘Bulk and cut’ dieting linked to eating disorders, muscle dysmorphia in youth warned of the harms of engaging in these practices.
And an NPR story in July of 2023 featured the issue, as well. The host, Juana Summers noted that “a recent study of young men in Minnesota found that more than 50% reported changing their eating habits to increase muscle size or tone.”
Summers noted, “Not all of these men have an eating disorder. But researchers say some may go on to develop unhealthy behaviors related to diet and exercise.”
The show also included the expertise of Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at the University of California San Francisco who specializes in eating disorders among adolescents, and NYU psychologist Andrea Vazzana.
“I think that what’s oftentimes underestimated and might be neglected altogether are the costs that come along with trying to achieve [an] ideal and not only achieve it but to maintain it over time,” Vazzana told NPR.
Family support is huge in helping teenagers overcome eating disorders, as can be reaching out to a family doctor for advice. NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association) also offers resources.
