Is Gym Culture Toxic?

More Brits are hitting the gym than ever before. In 2017, 5.7 million UK residents held a fitness club membership, and this was estimated to reach 7 million by the end of 2022.

In many ways, that’s a positive thing. Lifting weights protects bone health, improves muscle mass and boosts metabolic rate, while cardio reduces the risk of conditions including obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, And keeping fit has plenty of well-publicised mental health benefits too. 

But it's not all good news — gym culture certainly has a toxic side. In this edition of the blog, we'll look at some of the issues and hopefully show how an Olympic weightlifting gym like Mem’s Weightlifting Club is refreshingly different... 

Issue #1: Too much focus on aesthetics

People usually go to the gym for one or more of the following reasons: they want to look better, feel better, or perform better. And while all three reasons are perfectly valid, focusing on ‘aesthetics’ at the expense of health or performance can lead to some destructive habits. 

For example, if gymgoers prioritise muscle gains over quality of movement, they may start lifting heavy weights with poor form. Those that don’t see results can quickly become frustrated, de-motivated, and turn to increasingly extreme measures such as skipping rest days, overtraining, disordered eating or even taking banned substances. 

Of course, Olympic weightlifters and other performance athletes can be tempted into these unhealthy behaviours too. But with a structured training programme, expert coaching and a supportive environment, that’s less likely. And our athletes benefit from all three at Mem’s Weightlifting Club. 

Issue #2: Unrealistic standards

While an increasing number of fitness influencers post about body positivity, you don’t have to look too far to find heavily Photoshopped, filtered, or strategically lit pictures of people flexing their shredded abs and defined muscles. For the most part, these are highly misleading. But when you’re exposed to such images regularly, it’s hard not to compare yourself to them (consciously or subconsciously) which can lead to feelings of insecurity and body dysmorphia.

Olympic weightlifters, on the other hand, come in all shapes and sizes. The standards in our gym are to do with application and respect for your fellow athletes, rather than how someone looks.

Issue #3: An obsession with diet

Food is still a problematic topic for many caught up in gym culture. With so much emphasis placed on aesthetics — reinforced by the unrealistic standards described above — it's no wonder some fitness enthusiasts become obsessed with their diet. 

Bodybuilders often go through cycles of ‘bulking’ (weight and muscle gain) and ‘cutting’ (calorie deficit), which can place a strain on the body and lead to an unhealthy relationship with food. 

Extreme cutting happens in the Olympic weightlifting community too — mostly when an athlete is preparing to make weight for a competition. But there’s a greater focus on maintaining a consistent diet of nutritious, healthy food that will fuel your training.

Issue #4: Misinformation

Misinformation is a real problem in the fitness industry. There are contradictions everywhere — for evidence, just type ‘are deadlifts good or bad’ into Google. The problem is that influencers, businesses, and sometimes even fitness professionals often present overly simplified (and misleading) information to gain attention or to sell their products or services. 

What you’ll receive at Mem’s Weightlifting Club is expert advice from qualified coaches with years of experience behind them.  

Want to work out in a fun and welcoming environment? Book a drop-in session at our Camberwell gym.