FACT holds that in present time, more men than ever flock the gym to develop the aesthetically desired body whether to gain more mass or just to get toned.
This is evidenced by the rising statistics of gym subscriptions that is accompanied by the mushrooming of more fitness hubs that cater to the bodybuilding needs of different social groups of men in the country.
Dubbed as “spornosexuals,” men classified as such are “defined to be concerned with personal appearance but who places more emphasis on having a fit, toned and virile body than on grooming or fashion,” said journalist Mark Simpson who coined the said millennial term. Simpson used spornosexual to replace the former term “metrosexual,” which he likewise conceived in the 90’s.
But the question remains: why does the popularity of spornosexual rise?
Admittedly, I started working out religiously five years ago with the goal of putting up more weight as I had a naturally frail frame. And these years of exposure to the gym has enabled me to experience and agree subjectively to the reality of the rise of spornosexuality probably because of the influence of mass and social media.
For instance, whenever we access our Facebook or Instagram accounts, which pictures of our male friends get the most likes? Is it not those who flaunt their abs and arms with bursting chests?
It has become a norm that young and even middle-aged men hone their bodies through diet and training and then sharing images of their physique on social media. And if we talk about demographics, one survey actually held that men aged 16 to 25 years are the most influenced by this form of popular culture.
There may be so many factors why men turn out to be spornosexuals that range from just lame “vice” and self-expression to the more dramatic claims of belonging to a social group that puts high value on the physical body.
For whatever the reason may be, it needs to be respected. However, the one must also be wary of the possible health risks that accompany being spornosexual. At this point, I am referring particularly on enhancement supplements that claim to speed up achieve the so desired body.
While there is a lot of truthfulness that is beyond fads on the use of such supplements as protein tablets, whey & mass gained powers and pre & post workout drinks, these products actually have the potential for developing health problems when taken either excessively or for prolonged periods of time. The rule that too much of a good thing is bad still holds. When taken exorbitantly, these supplements will do more harm than good: it can cause acne breakouts for those who are predisposed, water retention, blood pressure problems and even kidney issues. As a matter of fact, there was one local celebrity who was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease after only months of taking supplements.
Worse, there are more men who go beyond protein supplements and pre-workouts to turn to such drugs as anabolic steroids. “Roids” for short, these substances are taken either by injection or as tablets. Either way, results are so dramatic that it could actually speed up development of muscles in no time.
In random interviews, I have encountered men in the gym who admitted using these roids. Physically, they are so aesthetically desirable. Their bulging solid mass can really draw attention of the curious and prying eyes. But there’s a price to pay: they developed liver problems, facial and body acne and erratic mood swings.
Costly to begin with and truly an investment for the spornosexual, I would like to think of this social phenomenon as the product of the market economy consistent with the trains of thought of the economist Karl Marx.
In such, the capitalist market feeds “false” idealism to the people using mass and social media as their instruments to mislead the public in associating having big arms and bulging chests to health and fitness. I mean how many times have we seen in TV or internet posting about being fit with a photo flaunting a muscular physique?
Truth holds that enlarged muscles do not guarantee that the person who has these is healthy especially if the means to achieve such involved roids and excessive supplementation. Although this is also not to claim that being hunk or spornosexual is unhealthy as well. It totally depends on a balanced diet, healthy lifestyle, enough sleep, good social relations and low unmet needs.
And even if the spornosexual claims to be all natural with no roids or supplements, if going to the gym means sacrificing time for work, school, friends, relationships and family, this too is being unhealthy, particularly mentally.
(Comments may be sent to: polo.journalist@gmail.com)