Image-conscious nature of our society

[altessefitness]

I read an interesting article recently on 'cosmetic exercise'. It's estimated that 70,000 of the 'general fitness' population aged 16-70 years used performance & image enhancing drugs in 2012; primarily anabolic steroids. The current hugely image-conscious nature of society has led to increased use and acceptance of drugs to improve how we look. Exercise is increasingly portrayed in popular media as being about the 'image'. Is exercise for 'health' purpose now old-fashioned?

I'd be interested in hearing your views.

Many thanks in advance. Seasons greetings to you all!

[Dopamine1979]

I exercise partly to keep the beer belly at bay but mainly because I find it relaxing.

[uncleglen]

I exercise because when I don't I get depressed

[Applespider]

How big is the general fitness population to see what proportion that is? Google suggests that there are around 10,000 gyms in the UK. So 7 members in each who are more focused on image may be accurate. If the average gym has 500 active members then it probably isn't that big an issue.

The majority of those that I exercise with do so because it is fun, it is destressing and it means we can eat those Xmas mince pies without guilt ;-p Since we generally end up as a sweaty mass at the end, I don't think image is a primary concern!

[Cassius]

Ditto Applespider's question - 70,000 out of how many?

Obviously looking AND feeling healthier is a good aim when exercising.

[LadyDeliah]

People can change their body shape through exercise in addition to gaining all the accepted health benefits. If you are healthy and like how you look, then that is likely to impact positively on other areas of your life.

There is even evidence that more attractive people receive preferential treatment from others including employers and prospective employers.

Whether taking advantage of the more shallow benefits of exercise is a good thing or not is another thing.

[altessefitness]

Applespider the stats from the article are from a Home Office report published in 2012. Its an estimate figure, not quite sure on the population of their research though. I think information is quite limited regarding the number of people using performance and image enhancing drugs. The use of anabolic steroids is quite common. On this note I best stress that I don't use any substances lol.

I wonder what effect removing all mirrors from the gym would have on the men I encounter at gyms? lol

LadyDeliah I read the article you posted on Twitter 'Brainwashed by the Cult of the Super-rich' I tweeted it, brilliant!

I see you're a fan of Max Keiser too. So many prefer to turn a blind eye.

"There is a hole in man. Deep like a hunger he will never fill. It is what makes him sad and what makes him want. He will go on taking and taking. Until one day the world will say I am no more and I have nothing left to give"- Apocalypto

Twitter: @AltesseFitFun

[????]

There's an awful lot of blurring and common ground between excercising to make us 'feel better' and 'look better' - they aren't mutually exclusive...

[The Minkey]

When I lived a few minutes away from Brixton Rec, I went swimming several times a week before work as a means of doing something productive with my insomnia. Later, I did studio pilates at the Laban for several years which helped manage an issue with degenerating disks. So my reasons were very much therapeutic.

Back home, there was a guy who used steroids as a part of his gym routine. He killed his girlfriend in a fit of roid rage. Nasty drugs.

[ianr]

There was no statistically significant change between 1996 and 2011/12 in last year use of tranquillisers (0.4% and 0.5% respectively) or anabolic steroids (0.3% and 0.2% respectively); there has been little variation in levels during that period. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drug-misuse-declared-findings-from-the-2011-to-2012-crime-survey-for-england-and-wales-csew-second-edition/drug-misuse-declared-findings-from-the-2011-to-2012-crime-survey-for-england-and-wales-csew-second-edition [Crime Survey for England & Wales, declared drug misuse, 16-59 yr olds, 2011/12] The page contains links to various Excel tables.

[LadyDeliah]

altessefitness Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> LadyDeliah I read the article you posted on

> Twitter 'Brainwashed by the Cult of the

> Super-rich' I tweeted it, brilliant!

> I see you're a fan of Max Keiser too. So many

> prefer to turn a blind eye.

> "There is a hole in man. Deep like a hunger he

> will never fill. It is what makes him sad and what

> makes him want. He will go on taking and taking.

> Until one day the world will say I am no more and

> I have nothing left to give"- Apocalypto

>

> Twitter: @AltesseFitFun

Nice quote and thanks for the big-up :-)