Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bodybuilding career is widely regarded as one of the most successful in history. He began lifting weights at 15 and quickly developed a passion for the sport. Schwarzenegger won his first Mr. Universe title at age 20 and went on to win seven Mr. Olympia titles, cementing his status as a bodybuilding legend.
Schwarzenegger’s impressive physique and charisma helped to popularize bodybuilding and make it a mainstream sport. He also used his success in bodybuilding as a springboard to a successful career in Hollywood. Despite retiring from competitive bodybuilding in 1975, Schwarzenegger remains an inspiration to many athletes and fitness enthusiasts worldwide. However, the actor is concerned about budding bodybuilders.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Worried About New Bodybuilders
According to Arnold Schwarzenegger, there are bodybuilders at the top echelon who have taken their passion for the sport to a dangerous level, where their obsession with size is putting their lives at risk. While weightlifting can benefit most, some individuals in the competitive scene prioritize sheer mass above all else, as per the renowned bodybuilder.
As per Insider’s Bethany Dawson, a fixation on amplifying muscle mass and building up one’s physique is referred to as muscle dysmorphia, or colloquially as “bigorexia,” and is believed to afflict around 10% of males.
“They have taken it, in my opinion, too far. It has gotten too competitive,” he said in an interview. “They’re gonna take more and more stuff that they’re not supposed to, and sometimes it kills people.”
As reported by Insider’s Gabby Landsverk, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s concern over the sport of bodybuilding grew last year after a series of fatalities within the community. The bodybuilding legend declared the sport “the most dangerous” in the world, reflecting his distress over the risks involved in pursuing extreme levels of muscular development.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Warns Against Use Of Steroids
Research indicates that performance-enhancing drugs and steroids are widespread among top-tier bodybuilders, despite the risks involved. However, these substances can cause a range of serious and enduring health issues, including but not limited to infertility, testicular atrophy, and cardiac arrest.
“The more extreme it gets and the more competitive the top athletes get, the more they are lifting weights that the body was not meant for,” Schwarzenegger told Insider.
Arnold Schwarzenegger views bodybuilding as a potentially beneficial activity, so long as it’s practiced responsibly and not taken to unhealthy extremes. The renowned bodybuilder highlighted the various benefits of weightlifting, including the development of lean muscle mass, fat loss, bone, and joint reinforcement, lowered risk of injury, and enhanced heart health with proper training and care.
Source: Insider
