The worrying impact of marvellous physiques – is it time to rethink the superhero bod?

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For the past twenty years, moviegoers have become used to seeing leading men with incredibly muscular physiques – bodies so perfect, even Michelangelo would have a hard time sculpting them.

For decades, strong physiques have been common among popular actors. However, the recent popularity of superhero movies – where actors often play characters with incredible bodies – has led to an even bigger emphasis on muscularity, particularly in Western cultures.

It’s an oversimplification to say ‘gym bros’ are created solely by movies, but we can’t deny the powerful impact popular entertainment has on culture.

Could the introduction of a super-soldier Steve Rogers in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ have, in some strange way, paved the way for the popularity of influencers like The Liver King, who promote eating raw meat? It’s a bit of a stretch, to be honest.

It’s clear that many men now want the physique of a superhero, even though it’s questionable whether it’s realistic, healthy, or maintainable in the long run.

Superhero movies are losing popularity, so maybe it’s time for stories about relatable, everyday men who show us that happiness and fulfillment don’t always come from extraordinary powers or adventures.

After all, the current crop of leading men are arguably doing the opposite.

Actors often go to extreme lengths for roles. Channing Tatum admitted his physique in Magic Mike wasn’t achieved naturally or healthily, Benedict Cumberbatch called his Doctor Strange diet terrible and wasteful, and Henry Cavill remembered feeling awful from forced dehydration while filming shirtless scenes for The Witcher.

Blockbuster movies often focus heavily on actors’ physiques, but this aspect – and the intense dedication it requires, as Dr. Zoe Williams pointed out on This Morning – is frequently overlooked. Maintaining such a body is essentially a full-time job for leading actors.

Even with a lot of help and preparation, actors still face potential health problems. Both Henry Cavill and Hugh Jackman cautioned fans against attempting extreme dehydration techniques at home, as these can be dangerous, leading to dizziness, kidney problems, heatstroke, and other issues.

Williams points out that performers are willingly taking a risk, driven by a cause that includes both the art they create and the significant financial rewards – often millions of dollars – associated with these shows.

As a film buff, I’ve noticed this trend of people going to extreme lengths to look like their idols – often characters ripped from mythology or fantasy. Honestly, it worries me. They’re taking on all the risks – physical, emotional, even financial – without any of the payoff. And what’s really concerning is that it seems to be starting at younger and younger ages. It’s like they’re chasing an impossible ideal and putting themselves in danger to do it.

Recent reports from BBC News and Men’s Health show that some boys are starting to focus on building muscle and bodybuilding as young as 13 years old.

During a previous interview, an 18-year-old described his diet as based on what he believed were the foods of his ancestors – things like raw steak and milk. He said he was inspired by online personalities like Brian Michael Johnson, who goes by the name Liver King and promotes this type of eating.

While getting a sculpted body in Hollywood can be dangerous, social media is even more unregulated, filled with unverified advice. This has led to unrealistic body standards, moving far beyond the already-idealized physiques seen in superhero movies and creating a distorted view of what’s achievable.

Dr. Williams explained that young people typically turn to platforms like TikTok, social media, and YouTube for information on how to get in shape.

It’s funny, you rarely see actual doctors or certified trainers guiding people on fitness these days. More often, it’s just folks who’ve managed to get in shape themselves, sharing what worked *for them*. They’re not necessarily experts, just people who’ve had some success and are passing on their personal methods.

Everyone is unique, so what helps one person might not help another, and what feels safe for one person could be risky for someone else.

It’s well known that raw meat and unpasteurized milk can make you sick because of harmful bacteria and parasites, but any health benefits they might offer are questionable.

It turned out that Johnson’s impressive physique wasn’t due to his extreme diet of raw organs, but rather the use of steroids. He eventually admitted he was mistaken in promoting that diet, as detailed in the Netflix documentary ‘Untold: The Liver King’ (though it’s not for the faint of heart).

As a lifelong moviegoer, I’ve noticed this trend popping up more and more, and it’s fascinating – and a little worrying. It seems a lot of young men are really getting into this all-meat diet thing, and it’s largely thanks to figures like Jordan Peterson and other creators who appeal to that online ‘manosphere’ – you might have seen it touched on in the recent series ‘Adolescence’. It’s interesting to see how these ideas are spreading and influencing people.

The show powerfully explored the widespread prejudice against women within this online community, and how its flawed views on what it means to be a man are fueling a larger debate about food and dieting.

For years, experts have urged us to eat less meat and animal products because of their significant contribution to climate change. Food production, as a whole, accounts for about a third of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

Some prominent figures promoting a traditionally ‘masculine’ image have misinterpreted this as criticism of men, even those striving for extremely muscular physiques through very high-protein diets, as explained by nutritionist Federica Amati in The Guardian.

While not every gym diet is extremely old-fashioned, many still focus heavily on foods like chicken, eggs, dairy, and processed meats. This is happening at a time when we really need to move towards more environmentally friendly eating habits.

Chicken farming’s impact is often underestimated. While chickens produce less carbon than cows or lambs per animal, the growing number of chickens raised for food creates significant issues. These include a large increase in antibiotic use and deforestation caused by the need to grow feed for them.

Recent polls from Savanta show that around two-thirds of people in Britain are open to eating less meat, and athletes like Lewis Hamilton demonstrate that reducing meat intake doesn’t have to negatively impact physical performance. However, we can expect pushback from online groups known for anti-feminist views, outspoken media personalities, and politicians who use inflammatory language.

That final point is particularly concerning. Clare Oxborrow, a food campaigner at Friends of the Earth, emphasizes that people trying to make healthier food choices shouldn’t have to do it without support or resources.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how much our food choices – and their effect on both our health and the environment – are really shaped by where we live and what’s easily available to us. It’s clear to me that food companies play a huge role in creating that reality, but I also believe governments should be doing much more to oversee them and ensure healthier, more sustainable options are accessible to everyone.

With all the current focus on appearance and body image, the entertainment industry, which often claims to care about realistic portrayals, could actually help ease the pressure on young men. Instead of constantly showing unbelievably muscular bodies, they could present fit, but attainable, role models.

It’s likely that seeing muscular figures constantly in the media and on social media is a major reason why more men are struggling with body image issues. This dissatisfaction is even leading some to use steroids in an attempt to achieve an unrealistic, ‘god-like’ physique.

Dr. Williams explained that wanting to feel and look good isn’t a problem in itself. However, if you find yourself constantly preoccupied with your appearance – worrying about how you look or what others think – that could be a sign it’s become unhealthy.

It’s important to remember that being healthy isn’t the same as having a perfectly toned body. Many people think a ‘six-pack’ automatically means someone is healthy, but that’s not necessarily true.

She acknowledged that building muscle and strength is definitely good for your health. However, she pointed out that getting extremely lean – to the point of visible ‘six-pack’ abs – doesn’t offer any additional health advantages.

This wasn’t always the case; action heroes from the 80s and 90s came in a wider variety of body types than we typically see now.

As a movie fan, I’ve always noticed a cool contrast in action heroes. You had guys like Arnold and Sly, who were all about those incredible muscles, but then there were actors like Harrison Ford, Kurt Russell, and Bruce Willis. They were just as tough and someone you’d look up to, but they felt more… relatable, you know? They weren’t about being unbelievably huge; they were just convincingly heroic.

Seeing action heroes with realistic, achievable physiques could help people feel more secure and less pressured to pursue unrealistic body standards or extreme workout routines – and that’s why I’m thinking about Benedict Cumberbatch.

Benedict Cumberbatch, known for playing Doctor Strange, recently acknowledged that his strict diet is excessive, joking that the amount of food he avoids could have fed a family. He shared this with renowned chef Ruth Rogers, expressing some regret about the waste.

But it leaves us with questions. Chiefly, why do it then?

After playing Doctor Strange in five successful movies over nearly ten years, shouldn’t Cumberbatch have some say in how his character is portrayed? And doesn’t Doctor Strange typically wear concealing robes that would cover any physical changes anyway?

If Doctor Strange were built like previous on-screen wizards, such as Merlin from the BBC series or Harry Potter, would his magical effects seem unbelievable? Would his spells feel too unrealistic if he wasn’t physically imposing?

Hollywood often wants to benefit from both sides of a situation – enjoying the advantages without accepting the drawbacks. It’s like wanting to have something and consume it at the same time, similar to wanting to enjoy a snack without it being gone.

Look, I get that productions are trying to be more eco-friendly – things like cutting back on plastic and using green energy are great! But honestly, it feels like they’re ignoring a huge part of the problem: all the food and drinks the cast and crew go through. It’s like they’re tackling small issues while overlooking a massive one. They really need to address the sheer amount of food waste and consumption happening on set if they *really* want to be sustainable.

This strong emphasis on a specific body type creates a culture where young men feel pressured to constantly gain size, and feel inadequate if they can’t achieve it.

As long as society continues to idealize the muscular superhero physique as the ultimate symbol of masculinity, it will be difficult to challenge the idea that eating meat is essential to being a man. This makes it harder for people to adopt more environmentally friendly, plant-based diets than necessary.

As the film industry gets ready to release another Avatar movie – likely with its familiar theme of environmental protection – it might be a good time to consider how its own actions impact the planet.

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2025-10-17 09:37