Muscles as success

The obsession with physique, wellness culture and the cult of the body have radically changed the idea of sport, which now goes far beyond the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. The popularisation of fitness and the desire for a perfect six-pack promote the idea that the human body is a temple to be cared for and perfected.

A trend that is becoming established as a new status symbol, in which appearance has become crucial. Closely linked to the evolution of masculinity, self-discipline and self-sacrifice, social media has exacerbated this phenomenon, encouraging users, mainly from Generation Z, to fill sports facilities to successfully show off the latest viral challenge.

Gyms are becoming the new places of gathering and worship, oases for the body and self-contemplation.

There is also a boom in personal training and in countless categories of sports products from brands whose core, in principle, is not in this sector.

However, setting limits on body perception, both our own and others’, is crucial. The obsession with muscle building, ideal sizes and socially accepted beauty standards brings with it everything from eating problems to mental health issues and conflicts with self-esteem and personal relationships.

In this sense, as a society, the challenge will be to understand that, although exercise and a balanced diet are vital components, true health involves much more than physical appearance and unrealistic standards.