Should we practice what we preach?

Jason Jackson
Jul 30, 2017 · 3 min read

My friend Melissa Weldon is a Master Trainer at 1Rebel and the founder of Fempower, a female-empowerment project. The focus of their work is promoting a positive female body image. Knowing I supported the cause, Melissa asked me to write an article, from the male perspective.

From 2008 there has been a sustained, year-on-year rise in the number young men hitting the gym — the largest increase in any demographic doing any type of sport (Active People Survey 2014). Supplements sales are also up 40% — the second largest growth of any product (Nielsen 2014). And by now Men’s Health magazine has more than doubled the circulation of its nearest competitor, the fashion-focused GQ.

“Fit is the new rich”

In a fascinating paper on neoliberal austerity, Hakim (2013) describes how traditional masculinity is under threat. In these current challenging economic conditions, many men have sought validation and self-worth in their physiques.

If it was simply a case of low body fat, all men would need to do is create an energy deficit by increasing energy expenditure and restricting calories. But that is not enough to build the Alpha Male physique.

Building muscle doesn’t happen by accident. I’ve just completed a structured case study documenting a detailed training and nutrition plan for my MSc where my client gained 4kg of muscle whilst reducing his body fat down to 8.1% (DEXA scans available). His calorie deficit was based on a percentage of his bodyweight, whilst protein needs were calculated from his lean body mass. When calories are restricted, there are a host of factors to consider when creating an environment that supports increases in muscle mass, fuels training sessions and mitigates losses to anabolic hormones associated with caloric and/or fat restriction.

“Your body is your business card”

If you work in the health profession, whether you’re a personal trainer or doctor, you will be judged on your body. According to a recent study by Hutson et al. (2013), clients and patients will make an assumption on how healthy your own lifestyle is based purely upon your appearance.

An athletic physique will instil your interactions with a sense of “moral and health authority”, creating trust in the process

But is this fair? Should we be expected to practice what we preach?

The wage effects of obesity

Clients aren’t the only ones who judge you based on your physique. HR departments reward their leaner employees. In Baum and Ford’s 2004 study on the wage effects of obesity, the duo found that overweight employees were paid 3.4–6.1% less than their leaner colleagues. Women were penalised the most. This discrimination is based on the employers’ (unsubstantiated) fears that health problems will impact productivity, healthcare will cost more to provide and customers prefer to interact with their leaner counterparts (in sales and service jobs).

Sure, I think you should take pride in your appearance. And you should want to look good for your partner. But not at the expense of your health, happiness, work or social lives.

Jason Jackson MSc

www.personaltrainerliverpoolstreet.com/contact

References

Baum, C.L. and Ford, W.F., 2004. The wage effects of obesity: a longitudinal study. Health Economics, 13(9), pp.885–899.

Hakim, J., 2015. ‘Fit is the new rich’: male embodiment in the age of austerity. Soundings, 61(61), pp.84–94.

Hutson, D.J., 2013. “Your body is your business card”: Bodily capital and health authority in the fitness industry. Social science & medicine, 90, pp.63–71.

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