“Alright dumba**, welcome to lesson two here at fat f*** university.”
So begins one of the countless fleshy blurs of locally-produced fitness content pumped algorithmically into the feeds of Australian Instagram, TikTok and Facebook users.
It’s the sort of engagement-baiting approach that yields viewers and followers — designed to push men out of some apparent masculine malaise and into retaking control of their body and masculinity, usually via paid workout programs, products or supplements.
It’s also the type of content increasingly filtering into the phones of teenage boys.
Meme culture is a big part of fitness and gym content.(Supplied: Instagram)
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While there is a more developed conversation about idealised images on social media and body image pressures on young girls, experts say research is less advanced when it comes to boys.
“I think boys are now objectifying themselves like never before and we do need to be really concerned,” said Danielle Rowland, Head of Prevention at national eating disorder charity the Butterfly Foundation.
“The intensity of training advice, nutrition and misinformation is greater than ever.”
Feeds serving up different diet
When Anthony Lee started high school in regional Victoria six years ago, social media had a different feel to it.
“In Year 7, it was just basically a way to keep up with your mates,” he said.
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Anthony Lee says social media came to mean something very different by the end of high school.(ABC News: Jeremy Story Carter)
By the time he finished Year 12 last year, the feeds of his classmates had changed. So too, the surrounding culture.
“There is a growing problem with men having that feed of perfect body content,” he said.
“There are people who will see influencers on social media and say, ‘I’ve got to have bigger arms, toned legs, I got to have calves the size of mountains’.”
Engaging with fitness content online will generally see a user receive more and more of that type of content.(Supplied: Instagram)
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Linger on one Instagram reel showing off a set of dumbbell exercises, and you’ll likely get five more videos zeroing in on how to get “boulder shoulders”, or some protein-heavy diet advice from a shirtless influencer.
Josh Ward travels to schools in Sydney and around regional NSW, hearing from young boys as part of his work as a facilitator for men’s mental health organisation Tomorrow Man.
“There’s been a huge jump in the last two to three years in the amount of boys opening up in workshops around their body,” he said.
Tomorrow Man facilitator Josh Ward runs school workshops around ideas of masculinity and mental health.(Supplied: Josh Ward)
Mr Ward believes there’s no coincidence it’s occurred alongside a “big spike” in the amount of fitness and gym influencer content turning up in their feeds.
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“If someone was in school walking around with a fitness mag in their pocket, bringing it out every recess or lunch, you’d think ‘that is some strange behaviour’. But that’s what [teenage boys] are celebrating now,” he said.
“The danger for young people is they don’t realise they’re actually the pioneer generation in terms of that exposure.
“In the last five years there’s been a crazy amount of fitness content, but that’s just what they’ve always been exposed to, so they don’t realise how strange it is.”
‘It creates a false sense of the world’
For many teenage boys on the path through puberty, working out in gyms has long represented an accelerated part of the journey into manhood.
Images of muscle-ripped celebrities and athletes serving as aesthetic inspiration, if not an unattainable physical ideal, is nothing new either.
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Going to the gym can be an important and healthy part of puberty for teenage boys.(ABC News: John Gunn)
But it’s the nature of that exposure — the type of content and the saturation of it — that has experts concerned.
“It’s that ‘in-your-face, all-the-time’ aspect of it,” said Associate Professor Ivanka Prichard from Flinders University.
“It’s seeing something on Instagram when we’re perhaps not in that frame of mind, making a comparison to this really fit person and have that influence the way we might feel about ourselves.
“We’re fed a whole range of things through those algorithms that we would never have had exposure to before and would never have sought out.”
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Experts report seeing digitally altered and AI-generated images in fitness content.(Supplied: Instagram)
Multiple experts the ABC spoke to reported seeing digitally-altered and even AI-generated images of supposedly naturally-fit bodies on social media.
Ms Prichard, a former fitness instructor whose research sits at the intersection of psychology, social media and exercise science, believes the constant barrage of perfectly sculpted bodies could destabilise the mental health of some teenage boys.
“For young people shaping their identity, it creates a false sense of the world,” she said.
Of the estimated 1.1 million Australians who had an eating disorder last year, one in three were male, according to the Butterfly Foundation.
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For over a decade, Scott Griffiths has studied body image and psychological disorders, with a recent focus on male eating disorders, body dysmorphia and particularly, muscle dysmorphia.
“Muscle dysmorphia is a psychological disorder. It’s not just being a gym junkie,” said Mr Griffiths, an associate professor and lead of the Physical Appearance Research Team at the University of Melbourne.
“It’s a preoccupation. You are always thinking about food, training, your appearance. It’s on your mind all the time.”
Jokes about mental health are regular among gym memes.(Supplied: Instagram)
According to the Butterfly Foundation, people aged between 15 and 19 are 2.7 times more likely to experience an eating disorder. It makes social media an animating and potentially potent driver.
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“It can reinforce in your mind that your worth is very closely tied to, if not wholly dependent upon, your appearance, which is not the basis for healthy self-esteem,” Dr Griffiths said.
“[TikTok and Instagram] are more likely to feature influencer bodies you are extremely unlikely to be able to achieve without performance enhancement, or a level of commitment to dieting and exercise that would overcome most people.”
Blurred lines at the gym
Joshie Glover, 27, has seen just how profoundly positive a gym environment can be for young boys.
In his work at young men’s mental health charity Man Cave, he estimates he’s facilitated over 170 school workshops of more than 5,550 students.
In that time, Mr Glover has witnessed countless examples of the physical and mental health benefits that a gym can provide, as well as the connection between mates working out.
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In Man Cave workshops, young boys are increasingly raising body image concerns.(Supplied: Man Cave)
It’s when those workouts veer toward the obsessive that problems emerged.
“With gym habits, it’s very blurred lines, which is why it’s quite insidious,” he said.
In Man Cave workshops, boys often speak about being bullied over their weight, only to reframe it as a positive.
“A lot of them will say, ‘I’m actually really grateful that I’ve been teased about how [fat] I was, because it motivated me to get to go to the gym and get big’,” Mr Glover said.
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“The line of when it goes from a positive social thing, motivating each other, doing something physically, to slipping into a pressured, coercive kind of motivation by ridicule, it’s really blurred.”
Andrew Tate and the problem with ‘discipline’
Another online fixation that routinely comes up in workshops is Andrew Tate, the disgraced misogynist content creator currently awaiting a criminal trial on allegations of rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.
Mr Glover said there was an uneasy through line between the much-discussed appeal of Tate, who used to be a professional kickboxer, and the growing obsession with social media gym culture.
A police officer escorts Andrew Tate from the court in Romania in March 2024.(AP: Andreea Alexandru)
“Many boys are so confused as to what it means to be a man, who are the role models?” he said.
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“One thing they’ve really latched onto is that a man is disciplined. Whenever you ask, ‘what’s the good bits about Andrew Tate?’, they’ll say, ‘he’s disciplined’.
“The main way that discipline can play out is attending to your physical body. There’s not really much desire for discipline in schoolwork or discipline in any other areas, it’s manifested in the gym.”
The irony that past generations have decried a lack of discipline in today’s kids is not lost on Mr Glover — but he said the dangers lie in its interpretation.
“The toxic, maybe unhealthy, part of it is that there are so many different kinds of bodies that a teenage boy would have, and they’re all being channelled into this one kind of mould of what the body of a disciplined person looks like,” he said.
The influencer credibility gap
Where parents and teachers may try, often in vain, to ward young boys away from specific individuals like Tate, telling them to ignore an entire social media ecosystem is even harder.
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Fitness influencers and gym content creators have argued they are merely promoting healthy physical habits and dieting advice.
Some accounts function almost as communities of collective support for people trying to reach their goals, while many frame workout content through the lens of positive mental health.
Not all influencers are qualified to give diet and health advice.(ABC News: Mary Lloyd)
Recent studies co-authored by Associate Professor Ivanka Prichard have analysed the content and credibility of fitness accounts on Instagram and TikTok.
The research found two-thirds of the accounts audited on Instagram “lacked credibility or contained potentially harmful or unhealthy content”, while exercise and diet advice promoted on TikTok was often at odds with national health guidelines.
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Fitness influencer Brian Johnson, known as “Liver King”, belatedly admitted to steroid use.(Supplied)
In late 2022, US fitness content creator Brian “Liver King” Johnston suffered an ignominious fall from grace after admitting to spending tens of thousands of dollars on steroids and performance-enhancing drugs.
The Liver King had previously maintained his improbable physique was the result of hard workouts and eating raw meat, and that others should aspire to do the same.
Ms Prichard recommended seeking out content creators with relevant qualifications or failing that, the accounts of athletes and those who emphasise physical performance over aesthetics.
“From a user perspective, red flags are anything that has quite a lot of skin on display, is sexualised or is hyper-focussed on the appearance of the body,” she said.
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“I would definitely encourage parents to also just talk to young people about what they are viewing on social media.”
Using the gym to tamp down on mental health problems is a common joke online.(Supplied)
At a recent barbecue, Danni Rowlands bent an ear toward a conversation her 10-year-old son was having with a few boys his age.
“They were looking at each other’s calves and deciding who had the veins popping out,” she said.
“They ranged from 10 to 12. One was saying ‘here’s my six-pack’.”
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Ms Rowlands, who played netball at an elite level and has her own lived experience with eating disorders, knows an obsessive focus on physique can affect mental health, school participation and relationships with friends and family.
“I think it gets minimised and oversimplified — that it’s just a teenage thing — but there’s a real danger for a young person’s self-esteem, their identity, their mental health,” she said.
“It’s not wrong to want to take care of ourselves, but the pursuit of perfection, because we think that is the answer to all of our problems, is really setting ourselves up in a negative way to move through adulthood.”
Aerobic exercise and resistance training help improve cognitive and executive functioning, with older populations seeing the biggest boost, according to a new meta-analysis
In the longevity game, health and wellness have evolved into more than just obtaining an ideal BMI; they’ve become tools to improve and extend mental acuity — and aerobic exercise and resistance training could be the keys to positive cognitive and executive functioning.
Aging is inevitable for all, but one systematic review and meta-analysis — described by its authors as a comprehensive “one-stop shop” — has offered new insights into exercise’s impact on cognitive function and provides a new perspective for longevity-seekers.
Exercise is commonly recommended to boost cognitive function, but researchers say few meta-analyses have truly evaluated the cognitive advantages associated with variables such as exercise frequency, intensity, duration, type, volume and progression (FITT-VP) in healthy populations.
In their review, published in Ageing Research Reviews, researchers used PubMed and Web of Science to gather 54 randomized controlled trials with 6,277 participants (aged 6 to 60) to examine each FITT-VP variable’s effects on healthy individuals’ cognitive function, including executive function, memory, attention and information processing.
The included 54 studies met the following criteria:
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The study was a randomized controlled trial with healthy participants to explore the effects of chronic exercise on cognitive function
The interventions included any type of exercise training with supervision
Control group participants received no intervention, usual care, health education, sham exercise training, or were on a waitlist for the study
Studies had to report at least one cognitive outcome, which included global cognition, executive function, memory, attention or information processing
The key takeaway? Aerobic exercise performed with moderate duration, frequency, intensity and overall length was associated with the greatest improvement in global cognition, the authors found.
When it comes to improving executive functioning, researchers suggest that resistance training is better than aerobic exercise, although both modalities offer strong benefits.
Mind-body exercise (in this case, yoga and tai chi) with moderate duration, frequency and overall length but high intensity also showed benefits to memory, although the authors caution that the results assessing attention and information processing should be interpreted cautiously due to the low number of included studies.
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Perhaps most interesting is the finding that older participants benefited the most from exercise interventions — a point complemented by recent research on the powers of daily, low-intensity physical activity.
“This study offers new insights on the dose-response relationship of chronic exercise and the use of FITT-VP exercise principles to improve cognitive abilities or prevent cognitive decline in the process of aging,” the authors concluded.
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The longevity space continues to soar, with many emerging solutions and products that proponents say can slow down the ticking clock of age or, at the very least, support health in the present. From mushroom-powered drinks and gummies to enhance focus to GLP-1 and other weight loss management solutions to assisted stretching, analysts are bullish on the wellness boom.
Courtney Rehfeldt
Courtney Rehfeldt has worked in the broadcasting media industry since 2007 and has freelanced since 2012. Her work has been featured in Age of Awareness, Times Beacon Record, The New York Times, and she has an upcoming piece in Slate. She studied yoga & meditation under Beryl Bender Birch at The Hard & The Soft Yoga Institute. She enjoys hiking, being outdoors, and is an avid reader. Courtney has a BA in Media & Communications studies.
In the ever-evolving world of fitness and health trends, few figures have captured as much attention and controversy as the Liver King. Known for his bold claims about primal living, intense workouts, and unconventional dietary practices, Liver King has amassed a significant following. However, recent scrutiny from exercise scientists, including Dr. Mike of Renaissance Periodization, sheds new light on the validity of these practices.
An Introduction to Liver King’s Controversy
Liver King, or Brian Johnson as he’s known off-screen, has built his brand on a narrative of returning to primal roots through rigorous physical training and a diet he claims mimics ancient practices. Central to his philosophy are “ancestral tenets” which he asserts are crucial for optimal health and fitness.
Dr. Mike, an exercise scientist with a background in sport and exercise science, as well as competitive bodybuilding and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, has taken a critical stance. In a recent analysis, Dr. Mike dismantles Liver King’s claims, questioning both their scientific basis and practical application.
Decoding Liver King’s Ancestral Diet and Training
Liver King advocates for a diet rich in organ meats, bone marrow, and other foods he deems essential for primal nutrition. His approach emphasizes consuming the entire animal, from “nose to tail,” which he believes provides a comprehensive spectrum of nutrients vital for health.
However, Dr. Mike highlights the inconsistencies and impracticalities of such a diet in modern contexts. He points out that while organ meats do offer nutritional benefits, there is no scientific evidence supporting the necessity of consuming them exclusively or in such large quantities. Most nutrition experts agree that a balanced diet incorporating a variety of food groups is more effective and sustainable for long-term health.
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Moreover, Liver King’s diet ignores modern advances in nutrition science. Contemporary dietary guidelines are based on extensive research, showing that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains promotes overall health and prevents chronic diseases. The hyper-focus on organ meats and other primal foods might also lead to nutritional imbalances and deficiencies if not carefully managed.
Red meat is rich with Iron
The Truth About Liver King’s Training Regimen
Liver King’s training regimen is equally contentious. He promotes intense physical activities like carrying heavy loads over long distances and exposure to extreme cold as ways to enhance strength and resilience. These methods, while invoking a sense of primal toughness, are critiqued by Dr. Mike for their potential risks and limited effectiveness compared to more conventional exercise approaches.
Dr. Mike advocates for evidence-based training methods that prioritize progressive overload, compound movements, and structured rest periods. He argues that these methods not only build strength more efficiently but also reduce the risk of injury associated with extreme training practices. Compound movements like squats, deadlifts, and bench presses are foundational in building muscle and strength because they engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously, promoting functional fitness.
Additionally, the extreme elements of Liver King’s regimen, such as carrying heavy loads over long distances, can lead to overuse injuries and chronic pain. Modern exercise science emphasizes the importance of a balanced workout routine that includes cardiovascular, strength, flexibility, and mobility training to ensure holistic fitness and prevent injuries.
Epigenetics and the Misuse of Scientific Terms
Liver King often references epigenetics to justify his dietary and training choices. However, Dr. Mike clarifies that while epigenetics is a legitimate field of study, Liver King’s application of the term is misleading. Epigenetics refers to the study of how gene expression can be influenced by environmental factors, but it does not validate extreme dietary or training regimes as claimed by Liver King.
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The misuse of scientific terms like epigenetics can be misleading for individuals seeking genuine health advice. It’s crucial to understand that while lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise can influence gene expression, these effects are complex and cannot be simplified into blanket statements endorsing extreme behaviors. Reputable health and fitness advice should be grounded in robust scientific evidence, considering the multifaceted nature of human biology.
Shielding and Other Dubious Health Practices
Liver King advocates for shielding against modern environmental “dangers” like Wi-Fi and synthetic clothing, claiming they disrupt natural biological rhythms. Dr. Mike dismisses these claims, citing scientific consensus that these technologies pose no significant health risks when used appropriately.
The idea of shielding oneself from everyday modern conveniences is based more on fear-mongering than scientific reality. Research has shown that everyday exposure to Wi-Fi and synthetic clothing has minimal to no adverse effects on human health. Instead of focusing on these unfounded concerns, individuals should prioritize well-established health practices such as regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, adequate sleep, and stress management.
The Reality Behind the Persona
Beyond the controversies, Liver King’s persona raises questions about authenticity and credibility. Dr. Mike asserts that while Liver King’s message may resonate with some seeking alternative health approaches, his methods lack scientific rigor and may pose risks to followers’ health.
Moreover, the revelations about Liver King’s use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) further undermine his claims of achieving his physique through natural and ancestral means. This discrepancy highlights the importance of transparency and honesty in the health and fitness industry. Aspiring to unrealistic standards set by individuals who do not disclose their use of PEDs can lead to disappointment, disillusionment, and potentially harmful behaviors in those trying to emulate them.
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In conclusion, the Liver King phenomenon serves as a cautionary tale in the fitness and health industry. While his charisma and unconventional approach may attract attention, consumers are urged to critically evaluate the scientific basis of health and fitness claims.
Dr. Mike’s analysis underscores the importance of evidence-based practices supported by peer-reviewed research. As consumers navigate the landscape of fitness influencers and health trends, skepticism and informed decision-making are crucial.
For those genuinely interested in improving their health and fitness, Dr. Mike recommends seeking guidance from certified professionals and relying on established principles of exercise science and nutrition.
In the end, the Liver King saga reminds us that while the allure of ancestral lifestyles and extreme fitness practices may be compelling, health decisions should always be grounded in scientific evidence and reasoned analysis.
Watch Dr. Mike’s full analysis on YouTube for a deeper dive into the controversy surrounding Liver King’s diet and training claims.
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Eating for Wellbeing: Can a Diet Change Improve Your Health?
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A PT has shared her ultimate summer arm workout – and there’s not a dumbbell in sight.
If lugging weights around the gym for the sake of sculpted guns isn’t for you, then don’t sweat it – just five equipment free exercises are enough to tone up those biceps and triceps.
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Want sculpted arms this summer? Look no furtherCredit: Chloe Thomas
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PT Chloe Thomas revealed how to strengthen your arms in five moves, no equipment neededCredit: Chloe Thomas
And what’s more, you can do them from the comfort of your own home – or hotel room, if you’re jetting off for the holidays.
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Personal trainer and women’s health and mindset coach Chloe Thomas put together a circuit of five exercises guaranteed to have your arms burning.
The PT – who goes under the name Chloe Inspires Coaching – recommended you do the circuit two or three times a week for best results.
“Aim for three rounds, with 30 seconds rest between each exercise,” she said.
Read more on arm workouts
Chloe advised you take 90 seconds of rest between each circuit.
And if you’re feeling brave – and looking for an extra burn – why not attempt doing the circuit four times over?
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Your arms might feel sore afterwards – but they’ll certainly look fabulous.
Just make sure you warm up first to avoid injury, the PT said.
Chloe noted: “No exercise can spot reduce body fat; this is a myth and not possible.
“These exercises will increase strength and muscle mass.
PT reveals quick at-home Pilates workout to strengthen your core and blast your lower abs
“To reduce body fat you need to be eating in a caloric deficit and eating healthy, minimally processed foods.
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“If you want to build muscle in your arms or core you need to make sure you are eating adequate protein each day.”
Roll out your mat, make sure you have a chair nearby, and let’s get started.
1. Diamond press ups
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Start off kneeling as a beginner and then progress to plankingCredit: Chloe Thomas
Begin by kneeling on all fours with your hands under your chest, forming a diamond shape with your thumbs and index fingers.
Lower your body by bending your elbows, keeping them close to your sides – make sure you’re not flaring them out.
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Lower until your chest is just above the ground and then push back up to the starting position.
Aim to do 10-12 reps of this exercise.
Beginners should start this exercise kneeling, but you can progress to full body press ups once you’re feeling confident, with no knees on the floor.
Simply get into a plank position and do the same sequence of movements.
2. Plank to shoulder taps
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Start in plank and tap each shoulder while keeping your hips steadyCredit: Chloe Thomas
Begin in a plank position with your hands under your shoulders and your body in a straight line.
Lift your right hand and tap your left shoulder.
The aim is to try and avoid moving your hips, so keeping your core tight will help with this.
Put your right hand to the floor and do the same with your left hand tapping your right shoulder.
Repeat this 10 to 12 times on each side.
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3. Pike Push ups
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Start on your knees to make think exercise easier or pop your feet on a sofa chair to up the anteCredit: Chloe Thomas
If you think you’re going to get a nice stretch out of this downward dog, think again!
Assume the position, with your hips raised and your hands and feet on the ground.
Next, bend your elbows to lower your head towards the ground.
The 5 best exercises to zap belly fat fast
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Agonising sit ups aren’t the only way to blast belly fat.
London-based personal trainer Will Duru shared five exercises to get a trimmer tummy this summer.
1. Knee tucks
Lie on your back and place your hands in a V shape at the bottom of your spine for support.
Lift your legs off the ground and bend them in towards your chest, before extending them out in front of you.
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Do four sets of these, with 20 reps in each.
2. Plank side-to-side twist
Get into a plank position, resting on your forearms with your body in a straight line.
Twist from one side to the other, dipping your hips.
Do four sets of 20 reps.
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3. Mountain climbers
Start in a plank position, weight resting on your palms and making sure your bum isn’t sticking up.
Alternate bringing one knee into your chest and back out again.
You can do these slowly with control, or speed up to a ‘running’ pace.
Do four sets, 40 seconds each.
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4. Toe touches
Lie on your back and extend your legs at a 45 degree angle in front of you.
Extend your arms towards your toes and curl your torso off the floor, engaging your core to do this.
Repeat the movement 20 times. Do four sets in total.
5. Butterfly sit ups
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Lie on the floor, bend your knees and place the soles of your feet together so your legs are ‘butterflying’ out.
Stretch your arms above your head, resting them on the floor, or out in front of your chest.
Sit all the way up, bracing your core, and bring your hands as close to your feet as possible, before curling back into the floor.
Do four sets of 10.
Watch Will demonstrate how to do the exercises here.
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Lower until your head is just above the ground, before pushing back up to the starting position.
Aim to do between five and eight reps.
To make this easier start on your knees and move to your feet.
But if you’re finding it too easy, pop your feet onto a sofa or chair.
4. Chair Dips
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Grip the edge of a chair and slide yourself off it, lowering your bum towards the floorCredit: Chloe Thomas
Sit on the edge of a sturdy chair, with your hands gripping the edge next to your hips.
Slide yourself off the chair and lower your body by bending your elbows.
Lower until your elbows are at about 90 degrees, before pushing back up to the starting position.
Do 10-12 reps.
To make this harder, move your legs further away from the chair.
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5. One armed press ups
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Place on hand down next to you and extend the other one out sidewaysCredit: Chloe Thomas
Begin in a kneeling position with your knees just behind your hips.
Place one hand next to you on the mat and splay the other arm out, with your palm on the floor.
Lower until your chest is just above the ground. Push back up to the starting position.
Do five to eight reps and perform the exercise on the other arm.
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As this gets easier you can go to full plank position, not using your knees.