In this episode, I cast my eye over a recent article in the UK's Times Newspaper.

The two page finding, was at best scare mongering and at worst, ill advised by another columnist with little to zero evidence of the potential damaging effects of young men striving for physical fitness through resistance training, nutrition and supplementation.

The USA based social media influencers, whom literally overnight have become tiktok and YouTube sensations with daily uploads of their weight training schedules, eating habits and supplementation, are now followed by millions of young men, aged 12 and upwards, with an interest in improving their physical appearance and performance in the gym or sports fields.

The article in question, challenges this phenomena, with notions of body dysmorphia and injuries sustained through poor technique and or underdeveloped physiologies. Whilst this is not impossible, simply down to the sheer amount of participants, the alarming amount of overweight or obese men in the UK and USA far exceeds those with hang ups or short term injuries through weight training.

Often, unhealthily overweight men seek others in the 'same boat' as themselves, through design or coincidence and likewise, physically strong, muscular and determined young men do the same, by working out in gyms or at home.

TV advertising, newspapers and streaming channels are bombarded with processed food commercials, gambling app promotions and subtle to blatant championing of obesity. This on-going problem is here to stay and as such those with vested interests in promoting unhealthy lifestyles are given free reign to pour scorn on those who take self accountability.

Given that there are indecencies of addictions to exercising, dieting and in some cases performance enhancing pharmaceuticals, it's far more likely that young men aged sixteen and upwards who frequent weight training clubs will reap the rewards later in life, avoiding excess body fat storage, musculoskeletal disorders, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and cancer related complications, which are, for those deciding not to embark on resistance based exercise plans, can be an unwanted but inevitable outcome.

The Times newspaper have chosen not to ask an experienced male weightlifter, personal trainer or competition bodybuilder, opting for a middle aged woman, with what might initially appear to be a deep rooted concern, but in all probability is based on limited experience, knowledge or proof, regarding the aforementioned 'craze' surrounding, muscle clad influencers.

My advice as a professional personal trainer with over 40 years of fitness training is to seek help or simply ask a friend who works in the fitness sector for a few pointers in the right direction, when starting out on your resistance exercise plans and above all take time to learn good form, healthy nutrition and quality sleep.

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