Bodybuilding, Drugs and Risk »

Monaghan, Lee F. (Cardiff Univ)

Current popular interest in bodies, fitness, sport and active lifestyles, has made bodybuilding more visible and acceptable within mainstream society than ever before. However, the association between bodybuilding, drugs and risk has contributed to a negative image of an activity which many people find puzzling.
Using data obtained from participant observation and interviews, this book explores bodybuilding subculture from the perspective of the bodybuilder. It looks at:
* How bodybuilders try to maintain competent social identities
* How they manage the risks of using steroids and other physique-enhancing drugs
* How they understand the alleged steroid-violence link
* How they 'see' the muscular body.
Through systematic exploration it becomes apparent that previous attempts to explain bodybuilding in terms of 'masculinity-in-crisis' or gender insecurity are open to question. Different and valuable insights into what sustains and legitimizes potentially dangerous drug-taking activities are provided by this detailed picture of a huge underground subculture.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Chad Asplund, MD(Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine)
Description:This book provides a view of the lifestyle of bodybuilders, including risks of drug use and the knowledge of pharmacology and nutrition required to be successful.
Purpose:According to the editor, the purpose is to characterize the expert knowledge of pharmacology, nutrition, and fitness needed to be a successful bodybuilder. The book exposes the underground world of bodybuilders, including how they manage inherent risks and seek to dispel the typical stereotypes. The editor's objectives are met in an easy to read format.
Audience:This book is intended for anyone interested in learning more about the lifestyle and the risks taken by bodybuilders. It is appropriate for students, residents, public health professionals, or sports medicine practitioners.
Features:This book introduces readers to the world of bodybuilding. It gives a view of the subculture of bodybuilders and tries to dispel any associated stigma. The editor does an excellent job of showing how bodybuilders try to minimize their risks of drug use by legitimizing its need in pursuit of their subculturally prescribed goal. We are given insight into the expert knowledge of anabolic-androgenic steroids, accessory drugs, associated side effects, and their complex medication regimens. A social view is presented about how bodybuilders view their bodies and why they aspire to certain morphologies. The violence associated with the use of steroids is better characterized. An interview style is intertwined with a research approach, which gives readers a better sense of the reality of bodybuilding.
Assessment:This book offers a unique view into an otherwise little known subculture, and explains the risk management strategies of bodybuilders. It is a distinctive work that delves into the psyche of bodybuilders.