Extreme bodybuilding: health or a matter of life and death

Extreme bodybuilding: sport or a risk to your life?

The bodybuilder known as Pradells sleeps with an oxygen mask. It is not an eccentricity: those who reach that body mass, even if it is mostly muscle, need respiratory assistance. The debate over the limits of sport and health finds its most extreme case here.

Elite bodybuilding is funded through sponsorships and, according to available data, a bodybuilder can earn more than almost any athlete in Spain. But in exchange, the body pays a price: orthopedic surgeons, chronic pain and a shortened life expectancy. Bodybuilders themselves admit it: "I'd rather live 15 or 20 years with this body than 60 with a normal one." Society, however, applauds them and turns them into idols.

Is it really a sport or a posing contest?

Some argue that bodybuilding is not a sport, but a posing contest. Just as no one would call Miss Universe a sport, bodybuilding would be an aesthetic competition dressed up as sport. The line between physical effort and pathological obsession becomes blurred. Participants push their bodies to the limit with steroids and extreme diets, and the visible result is a deformity that many consider unnatural.

The cost in years of life

The calculation is stark: those who choose this lifestyle accept that they will live 15 to 20 years less than a person with a normal body. In return, they get fame, money and a physique that society admires. The paradox is that while these athletes are applauded, the health and personal costs are ignored. The orthopedic surgeon, they say, "will explain it to them in the consulting room through the pain."

The striking fact: despite the obvious risks, bodybuilding keeps attracting young people who aspire to that physique. The uncomfortable question is whether health is an acceptable price to pay for fame and money, or whether we are facing a distortion of the very concept of sport.

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Frequently asked questions

Is bodybuilding considered a sport?
Bodybuilding is recognized as a sport by some federations, but many experts consider it a physical appearance contest, not a sporting activity in the strict sense. The discussion centers on whether the competition is based on athletic skills or only on aesthetics.

What are the health risks of extreme bodybuilding?
The use of steroids, muscle overexertion and maintaining an extremely low body fat percentage can cause heart, respiratory and joint problems, as well as a significant reduction in life expectancy. In cases like Pradells's, respiratory assistance is needed even to sleep.