ULTRA HUGE OR SUPER SKINNY FOR SUCCESS
For many, bodybuilding is very much a continual quest for increased muscular size or ‘mass’ for success on stage and recognition amongst fellow bodybuilders and industry insiders. Alternatively, in fashion modelling many strive to be increasingly super thin for achieving success in print or on the runway and to gain recognition and amongst fellow models and industry insiders. Together, both industries promote an unrealistic body ideal that is generally deemed unattractive and unhealthy the opposite sex and society at large, but often seen as necessary for attaining success and notoriety within each given industry.
1. BODYBUILDING
Since the 1960’s, popular fitness publications have promoted an ideal image that seems to mutate larger with each passing decade. 1970’s-era Mr. Olympia winner Frank Zane was a fraction of the size of modern day title holder Phil Heath. Though definitely not taller in height, today’s pro-level bodybuilder is unquestionably much larger in both width and thickness with excessive muscular definition and vascularity as well. Simply put, men (and women) with greater muscular size and definition has become the promoted ideal that many strive to replicate in their own physique – sometimes at any cost – even to the detriment of their own health. ‘Get big or die trying’ is unfortunately a mantra that many live by because it is where the bar has been set by the judges and publishers that dictate the ideal image within the industry.
As a result, a bodybuilder must eat. Today’s bodybuilders are often maintaining diets that are in excess of 5-6000+ calories per day. It’s no big secret that getting more calories in than out typically results in weight gain. When coupled with intense regular weight training, this ideally results in gaining muscle – IF of course, the calories consumed are derived from the right sources. Otherwise, an acquisition of body fat occurs too, and that’s not ideal.
It’s a common occurrence for a pro bodybuilder to step onstage standing barely 5’9 but weighing 270 lbs with only 5 percent body fat. By society’s standards, that’s a Body Mass Index (BMI) that is too high or more simply put, ‘too heavy for one’s height’. It’s often the end result of ongoing cycles of numerous anabolic steroidal compounds coupled lots of food (tapered off towards the day of the show) and consistent, ongoing weight training and frequent cardiovascular work. Rapid weight gain or weight loss is also commonplace amongst many competition bodybuilders. When coupled with pre-contest dehydration and frequent substance abuse with anabolic steroids, growth hormone and prescription diuretics, such quick drastic fluctuations can have serious consequences on one’s long-term health.
2. FASHION MODELLING
Contrary to bodybuilding, fashion modelling has increasingly promoted an ideal image that has become thinner with each passing decade. Twenty years ago the average female fashion model weighed 8 percent less than the average woman. Today she weighs more than 20 percent less. 1990’s-era model Tyra Banks was heavier with a greater BMI than supermodel Coco Rocha today. Typically taller than models of the past (especially those who work as runway models), today’s average model is unquestionably thinner than the the preceding generations, with strict demands being dictated to them by modelling agencies and designers to conform to an increasingly super-thin look. Today’s female fashion model typically falls within the sizes of 0-4, with a mere size 6 now qualifying as ‘plus size’. It’s common for today’s female runway model to walk down the stage standing 6’1 and weighing as little as 110 lbs. By society’s standards, that’s a BMI that is too low, or, ‘too light for one’s height’. Today most runway models meet the Body Mass Index criteria for anorexia, but it seems this is often a prerequisite for success within the industry.
As a result, models must eat very little, severely restricting their eating and often limiting themselves to as little as 200-400 calories a day to maintain a very thin figure and keep a BMI below 17-18. Sometimes this is coupled with intense exercise and/or abuse of laxatives. Occasionally models begin skipping eating throughout a given day. Such severe caloric restriction is common amongst models, which can also lead to eating disorders such as as anorexia nervosa which can severely impact one’s health, and can lead to depression or even death.
PUBLIC PERCEPTION
To a substantial portion of society at large, both looks are often simply deemed ‘too extreme’ and are seen as generally unattractive, especially when in the eyes of the opposite sex.
Truth is, though a woman can value a man with a muscular frame, a man who has achieved super excessive muscularity and vascularity can often be seen as unappealing. When browsing through the pages of a bodybuilding magazine, women (especially those who are not ‘fitness obsessed’) are often shocked at images of the excessively muscular men they see inside, and comment that it’s ‘too much’ for them. Though such such excessive muscularity can easily garner a lot of attention in public, it is often a as a result of a more ‘freak show-type fascination’ on behalf of the onlooker.
Similarly, though men often desire a slender frame on a woman, a super thin and undernourished body for the purpose of modelling can be seen as unattractive and unfavourable in the eyes of many of today’s men. Bony hips and super visible ribcages aren’t typically seen as attractive to guys, regardless of how prized it can be within the fashion industry.
THE REALITY
In actuality, being muscular and super lean doesn’t mean being attractive and doesn’t always mean being fit or healthy, despite what the magazines may promote. Similarly, being thin and fashionable, doesn’t mean being attractive and certainly has nothing to do with being healthy. Though there are now countries and organizations that have taken steps to change the image ideal in the name of promoting better health and a more realistic appearance, success within each given industry sadly continues to hinge on conforming to both extreme image standards, which seem to be still growing larger and shrinking smaller.
– Kurt Bradley
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