Speaking as someone who managed to pull off a massive body transformation....it doesn't shock me in the least.
Like others have said, poverty and access to nutrition is a factor, but I also find the fitness industry to be an interesting microcosm to many other crisis/contradictions in capitalism.
The problem is that just like any other industry, the fitness industry is built around selling you something to fix the problem. The whole thing is built on finding the magic bullet exercise, or the flavor of the week diet, or the new superfood that you've been missing all along.
Reducing your intake is hard enough as is, and since there isn't really a good way to sell or make money off that....the food and fitness industry through advertising and lobbying have done everything they can to convince people they just need to not be so lazy and exercise more, and that if you buy this product or this food it will make it just a little easier.
Speaking as someone who managed to pull off a massive body transformation....it doesn't shock me in the least.
Like others have said, poverty and access to nutrition is a factor, but I also find the fitness industry to be an interesting microcosm to many other crisis/contradictions in capitalism. The problem is that just like any other industry, the fitness industry is built around selling you something to fix the problem. The whole thing is built on finding the magic bullet exercise, or the flavor of the week diet, or the new superfood that you've been missing all along.
Reducing your intake is hard enough as is, and since there isn't really a good way to sell or make money off that....the food and fitness industry through advertising and lobbying have done everything they can to convince people they just need to not be so lazy and exercise more, and that if you buy this product or this food it will make it just a little easier.