Bodybuilding – the pursuit of extreme muscularity and leanness – is often celebrated as a showcase of discipline and human potential. However, numerous industry insiders, experts, and athletes have raised concerns that the bodybuilding industry operates in misleading or exploitative ways, to the point that some call it a “scam.” These criticisms span the supplement industry and its dubious claims, the prevalence of steroids/PEDs behind supposedly “natural” physiques, corrupt competition politics, the deceptive fitness influencer culture, and an aspirational economic model that profits from selling unrealistic dreams. Below, we delve into each of these areas in detail, citing expert opinions, exposés, athlete testimonies, and notable scandals.
Supplement Industry: Misleading Claims and Under-Regulation
The booming supplement industry often markets pills and powders as essential for muscle gains, yet many products have been found spiked with hidden drugs or mislabeled ingredients .
One pillar of modern bodybuilding is the nutritional supplement industry, which sells protein powders, pre-workouts, fat burners, and myriad other products. This industry is immense and loosely regulated – it generated nearly $39 billion in 2022 and continues to grow with “very little regulation and oversight” . Unlike pharmaceuticals, supplements in the U.S. are regulated as foods under the 1994 DSHEA law, meaning companies do not need to prove efficacy or safety before selling a product . Regulators typically can only act after a supplement is shown to cause harm . As a result, misleading marketing and false claims are rampant. Manufacturers can freely claim a supplement “boosts testosterone” or “builds muscle fast” without providing evidence. The FDA has noted many supplements contain ingredients with “strong biological effects” (or even hidden drugs) that can pose serious health risks , yet these products often carry only small, back-label disclaimers.
Critics argue that supplement companies knowingly exploit consumers’ aspirations. Advertising in bodybuilding media and online often features impossibly muscular “natural” athletes touting powders and pills. This creates a “dependency culture” where aspiring bodybuilders believe they must consume a shelf full of supplements to succeed. Meanwhile, many of these products don’t live up to their claims. In a notorious example, the Weider company (founded by IFBB co-founder Joe Weider) marketed “Anabolic Mega-Pak” vitamins in the 1980s as “scientifically created to replace steroids” – a claim so deceptive that the FTC charged the company and forced a refund settlement in 1985 . Regulators found the pills were “virtually worthless” for muscle building , illustrating how long the supplement hype machine has been misleading consumers.
Under-regulation has led to adulterated supplements flooding the market. Analytical studies have found that anywhere from 14% to 50% of tested supplements contain anabolic steroids or other illegal drugs that are not disclosed on labels . Such spiking can give a product dramatic short-term effects (and entice buyers with “before/after” results), even as it puts consumers at risk. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency warns that some sports nutrition companies “spike their products with ingredients they know are illegal, and then deceive regulators and consumers” . Notable scandals include:
- USPlabs (Jack3d & OxyElite Pro): This company sold a pre-workout and fat-burner claimed to contain natural plant extracts, when in fact they were spiked with the potent (and then-legal) stimulant DMAA. The spiking led to positive drug tests and even liver failure cases requiring transplants . Internal emails later revealed the owners joked about the lies (“lol stuff is completely 100% synthetic”), and they were indicted by the DOJ. After nearly a decade of sales, USPlabs executives pled guilty to mislabeling supplements with illegal ingredients .
- Enhanced Athlete: The CEO of this supplement company was sentenced to prison for selling research chemicals as supplements – including unapproved SARMs and even DNP, a toxic pesticide ingredient. He marketed pills for weight loss that in reality contained these dangerous drugs .
- Blackstone Labs: In 2019, the owners of Blackstone Labs were indicted for fraud after selling “supplements” laced with designer steroids and other banned substances . (Several Blackstone defendants later pled guilty or were convicted, underscoring that their bestselling products’ effects came from illicit drugs, not miracle herbs.)
These exposés reveal how supplement firms capitalize on lax oversight: they can make bold claims (“steroid-like gains”) and even covertly include steroids or amphetamines in products to hook customers, at least until regulators catch up. As a result, consumers are often misled and even put in harm’s way. “The unregulated market of dietary supplements is setting consumers up to be misled and potentially seriously harmed,” write public health experts . Many athletes have unwittingly failed drug tests or damaged their health due to such spiked products . Overall, the supplement side of bodybuilding often resembles a “Wild West” of marketing hyperbole and risky products, driven by massive profits and the promise of shortcut results.
Steroid and PED Use: Hidden Prevalence, “Fake Naturals,” and Health Consequences
An even more profound “open secret” in bodybuilding is the widespread use of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). At the highest levels of the sport, virtually all competitors use steroids, human growth hormone (HGH), insulin, and other drugs to achieve the freakish muscle mass and shredded conditioning seen onstage. Yet for decades, many of these athletes – and the industry at large – have downplayed or denied this reality, promoting an illusion that anyone could achieve an elite physique naturally with just hard work and supplements. This culture of clandestine PED use and “fake natty” claims is a core reason critics call bodybuilding a scam.
Prevalence and Secrecy: Precise figures are hard to obtain given the illicit nature of steroid use, but studies and surveys illustrate how common it is, even at amateur levels. In one analysis of amateur male bodybuilders (in non-tested regional contests), 48% admitted to using steroids/PEDs . Experts note that at national and professional levels – where the muscle size and leanness standards are extreme – the percentage of users is almost certainly higher . Indeed, a meta-analysis of studies found over 80% of competitive bodybuilders have used anabolic steroids in their careers . This aligns with insider testimony: “More than a dozen” trainers, judges and athletes told The Washington Post that earning even an amateur “pro card” drug-free is extremely difficult, and winning a major title without drugs is essentially “impossible.” As Dr. Harrison Pope – a leading steroid researcher – flatly stated when asked if one could win Mr. Olympia without doping: “Impossible.” . In other words, the superhuman physiques idolized on magazine covers and social media almost invariably require PEDs.
What’s more, insiders say this has become increasingly true in recent decades. Since the 1990s, a “mass monster” trend took over, where sheer size often beats aesthetic shape in judging . Former Olympia head judge Jim Rockell observes that today “the biggest bodies now tend to win… no matter how grotesque. They’re overdoing steroids, overdoing growth hormones, oils and whatever else. It’s pretty nasty.” . The result is that top champions weigh 250–300+ lbs of shredded muscle, dwarfing legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger – who, despite using steroids in the 1970s, “would not even get a pro card” in today’s scene, according to exercise science professor Brad Schoenfeld . This escalation has pushed even recreational lifters toward PEDs. Coaches lament that many young men in the gym now look to “what should I take?” before learning how to train properly, due to the influence of drug-fueled role models online . The tacit message: to have a standout physique or a fitness career, you will need chemical help.
“Natural” Competition Hypocrisy: Bodybuilding does have “natural” federations and divisions that drug-test athletes. However, critics call even natural bodybuilding “a scam” in its own way . Tests (often polygraphs or urinalyses) can be beaten or only catch certain substances, and some competitors simply cycle off drugs to appear clean. Meanwhile, judging standards in natural shows still reward an extreme level of leanness and muscle that many argue is unattainable without PEDs . One competitor remarked that natural bodybuilders look best at a slightly higher body fat (for fullness), but “judges want enhanced levels of leanness” that essentially force naturals to emulate drug users’ look . This pressure can lead to dangerous conditioning techniques or covert drug use even in “drug-free” contests. Furthermore, countless social media influencers and even pro athletes have falsely portrayed themselves as natural (“fake natties”) to the public, while secretly using PEDs – often to boost their credibility when selling training plans or supplements. (A high-profile example is Brian “Liver King” Johnson, who built an empire on claiming his caveman diet and supplements yielded his physique, only to be exposed in 2022 for spending over $11,000 per month on steroids .) Such deception erodes trust and feeds the narrative of industry hypocrisy.
Health Consequences and Recent Deaths: The most troubling aspect of bodybuilding’s PED reliance is the toll on athletes’ health. Anabolic steroids and related drugs carry serious risks, especially when taken in the massive doses common today. Long-term heavy steroid use is linked to heart disease, organ damage, hormonal disorders, and more . In recent years, the community has been shaken by a wave of young bodybuilder deaths. 2021 was dubbed one of bodybuilding’s “tragic years” with at least 15 high-level competitors (pro and top amateurs) dying unexpectedly, 80% of them age 50 or younger . Many of these deaths were reported as heart attacks, heart failure, or other cardiovascular events . Research backs up these grim observations: A 2025 study in the European Heart Journal tracked over 20,000 male bodybuilders and found their risk of sudden cardiac death was 14+ times higher for elite competitors than for amateurs . Among Mr. Olympia contestants (the sport’s elite), 7% had died suddenly – five from confirmed or suspected heart attacks at an average age of just 36 . Autopsies consistently show extreme cardiac hypertrophy (enlarged, thickened hearts) in these athletes , a likely result of steroid-induced stress on the heart muscle.
Active competitors themselves have spoken out. Stanford Brothers, a veteran bodybuilder, survived a heart attack at 46 and admitted his years of steroid use were a major factor . Others, like IFBB pro Dorian Yates, have retrospectively warned that today’s competitors are “playing with their lives” by using dangerous cocktail cycles far beyond what past generations did (Yates himself used steroids but advocates for moderation and health first in current interviews). The Washington Post investigation documented cases like a 26-year-old female amateur put on a harsh drug diuretic regimen by her coach that left her in organ failure on life support . When multiple competitors die in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, it casts a harsh light on the true cost of those shredded, muscular physiques idolized onstage. Critics argue the industry’s silence or lip service on this issue – while continuing to promote ever-more extreme ideals – is evidence of a callous “scam” that puts profits and glory over athletes’ well-being. As one team of researchers concluded, “the pursuit of extreme body transformation at any cost can carry significant health risks… [we] cannot ignore this health problem anymore” .
Competition Politics: Corruption, Favoritism, and Exploitation in Federations
Competitive bodybuilding is not just physically grueling – it has also been plagued by political machinations, favoritism, and financial exploitation within its governing federations. Many insiders have likened the leadership of major bodybuilding leagues to a fiefdom or cartel, where a handful of powerful promoters and officials control the sport, reward loyalty, and punish dissent. Athletes and even contest promoters who invest their time and money often find the system opaque and biased. These issues fuel the “scam” narrative: the idea that contests are “rigged” or that the federation is exploiting competitors’ dreams for profit.
The premier organizations in the sport are the NPC (National Physique Committee) for amateurs and the IFBB Pro League for professionals – both effectively ruled by the Manion family for decades. Jim Manion (NPC founder and IFBB Pro League president) and his relatives have an outsize influence over everything from judging to who gets to promote shows. A 2022 Washington Post exposé series (“Built & Broken”) revealed extensive allegations of corruption and patronage in this world. For instance, “judges and insiders say the Manions have effectively built an old-fashioned patronage system to reward favored athletes, coaches, sponsors and others.” Those who curry favor might get better placements or business opportunities, while “several former officials and athletes” said that anyone who crossed the Manions was swiftly ostracized or banned . One former judge, Lee Thompson, described how results could be manipulated: at a 2010 contest, an official witnessed a judge alter the winning lineup after phone calls from Jim Manion and his son during deliberations. “I got really pissed off,” recalled the judge (who had overseen some of the world’s top shows) . Such incidents reinforce suspicions that outcomes can be pre-determined or influenced by politics rather than fair judging.
Many veteran insiders have spoken up as well. Miles Neussle, an NPC board member for years, resigned in disgust, citing Manion’s “arrogance, corruption and intimidation” . Another longtime official, Pete Fancher, said Manion “rules the organization by fear” and that he looks back with “disgust, pure disgust.” . These are individuals who were once loyal pillars of the federation, now calling it out as a bullying dictatorship. Even the very genesis of the NPC was tainted: legendary Gold’s Gym owner Ken Sprague admitted that back in 1978 he stuffed the ballot box to ensure Manion was elected president of the new federation (because Sprague favored him over a rival). “I’m not proud of it,” he told the Post, likening Manion’s leadership style since to a mafia boss’s, complete with an inner circle referring to the Manions as “the family” . Indeed, multiple sources in the report compared the atmosphere to a mob clan, with people “expressing fear of retaliation for speaking out” .
Beyond judging corruption, financial exploitation is a major concern. While bodybuilders pour personal resources into preparing for shows (coaching, travel, costumes, tanning, etc.), the organizations profit from entry fees, membership dues, sponsorships and ticket sales. The NPC is ostensibly a nonprofit, but the Post found that Jim Manion and his family made various moves to personally profit – for example, taking control of the NPC’s trademark and launching parallel for-profit businesses selling NPC-branded merchandise and media . The lines between the charitable organization and private gain were blurred, raising legal and ethical red flags . In 2016, the NPC suddenly paid out $1.69 million in “management fees” that board members couldn’t explain, suggesting money being siphoned to insiders . Promoters of contests also alleged that Manion began hand-picking who could run lucrative shows, rather than any transparent bidding – consolidating power and income to his loyalists . Athletes see little of this money; only the top professional shows have prize money (and only for a handful of placings), whereas amateur competitors usually compete for trophies or pro status with no monetary reward. This dynamic leads some to compare the system to a pyramid scheme – thousands of paying hopefuls at the bottom funding the few winners at the top.
Favoritism in judging is another aspect frequently bemoaned by athletes. Bodybuilding judging is inherently subjective, which leaves room for bias. Fans still debate infamous decisions like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s contentious win at the 1980 Mr. Olympia, which even fellow competitors like Mike Mentzer alleged was decided by politics and Weider’s influence rather than merit. In modern contests, insiders claim certain sponsored athletes or those with the “right” connections seem to get favorable scoring. A current example is the perception that some popular influencers-turned-competitors place well due to their marketability or relationships, not just their physique. While hard proof is elusive, the lack of judging transparency (scores are often not fully disclosed or explained) fuels these suspicions .
Beyond corruption and favoritism, scandals of athlete exploitation have also emerged. In late 2022, The Washington Post reported that at least 20 female competitors accused Jim Manion’s son (J.M. Manion) – a prominent contest photographer and power broker – of pressuring them to pose nude or engage in sexual favors in exchange for publicity or opportunities. Several women said J.M. took nude photos which ended up on his soft-core porn websites without their consent . This “quid pro quo” sexual exploitation had allegedly been an open secret for years, highlighting a deeply predatory side to those in power. (The Manions denied wrongdoing, but after the exposé, J.M. Manion was reportedly barred from photographing the Arnold Classic and other big events .) Such accounts underscore that young athletes – especially women – have been vulnerable to abuse in the insular world of bodybuilding, with officials holding undue sway over their careers.
In sum, the governance of bodybuilding competitions has been marred by serious ethical issues. Longtime participants describe a climate of “intimidation, fear, and favoritism” that benefits a few at the expense of many . The dream of glory onstage can thus be undercut by politics: you might spend years and tens of thousands of dollars chasing a title, only to learn the game was rigged. This disillusionment is a key reason why some say the contest system is a scam – it may not truly be the level playing field of hard work and genetics that it purports to be. As former IFBB executive Wayne DeMilia remarked about the current state: “If you’re making money and you enjoy being part of the sport, [dealing with the corruption] is what you have to put up with now.” It’s a cynical take that suggests the love of bodybuilding is being exploited by those in charge.
Fitness Influencer Culture: Deceptive Marketing and “Fake Natty” Scams
In the social media era, much of bodybuilding’s image is shaped not just by contest winners, but by fitness influencers on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, etc. These are the chiseled men and women who gain massive followings by showcasing aspirational physiques and lifestyles. However, behind the motivational posts and #gainz hashtags, there is a dark side of deception in fitness influencer culture that critics label downright scammy. Key issues include “fake naturals” (influencers who secretly use PEDs while claiming nativity), photoshopped or staged content, and aggressive monetization of unrealistic body ideals.
Many influencers essentially serve as marketers – for supplement brands, for their own training programs or e-books, or for apparel and lifestyle products. The trust they cultivate with audiences becomes a sales funnel. The problem is much of that trust is built on lies or half-truths about how they achieved their bodies. As investigative journalist Joel Snape quipped, looking at one famous case: “In 2025, influencers post their morning ice baths and clean meals, but don’t mention what they’re injecting at the same time.” A prime example is the aforementioned Liver King scandal. Brian “Liver King” Johnson amassed millions of followers and reportedly $100M in annual revenue selling ancestral-living supplements, all while swearing he never touched steroids. His tagline was that eating raw liver and following his “Nine Ancestral Tenets” gave him his comic-book-like muscularity. In late 2022, this charade collapsed: leaked emails showed Liver King was on a hefty steroid cycle (multiple synthetic hormones costing over $11k/month), and he publicly confessed to juicing . The fallout was swift – he’s now facing a $25 million class-action lawsuit from customers who feel defrauded by his deceptive marketing . The suit claims Liver King misled consumers into buying his supplements and eating raw offal under false pretenses, and even caused some to get sick from the extreme diet . This scandal is one of the clearest illustrations of the “fake natty” influencer business model: promise ordinary people unbelievable results with a secret routine or product, while secretly using steroids to achieve your look.
Liver King is far from alone. The Guardian reports that he is just “the most outrageous example of a phenomenon that’s been around ever since performance enhancers were invented” . In the 1980s, celebrity wrestler Hulk Hogan told kids to train, say their prayers and take their vitamins – only to later admit under oath that he had used steroids for over a decade . Today’s influencers have new tricks: some have been caught editing their photos or videos (airbrushing abs, using fake weights to appear stronger, etc.), or using lighting and dehydration tactics to look ultra-lean only for sponsored shoots. Many also carefully curate an image of “clean living,” showcasing brutal workouts, pristine diets, and recovery hacks (ice baths, meditation, etc.) as their only secrets – never mentioning the weekly injection or pharmacy-grade fat-burner enabling them to maintain 5% body fat year-round. This creates a toxic cycle of unrealistic expectations. As Snape writes, “a generation of young men and women…are developing a completely skewed version of what’s possible with hard work and a chicken-heavy diet.” They scroll through feeds of shredded, muscular physiques and are led to believe that is the new normal or attainable natural outcome of fitness – when in reality, drugs or digital deception are often behind the look.
Some veteran fitness personalities openly critique this culture. Personal trainer and author James Smith bluntly said: “If you want to make a living from fitness, you’re almost stupid for trying to do it naturally.” The economic incentives push influencers to take PEDs to stand out, he explains. A bit of testosterone can speed up gains, leading to eye-popping transformations that attract followers; those followers buy coaching and e-books, which motivates the influencer to perhaps take even more PEDs to keep the buzz going . It becomes a self-reinforcing scheme: enhance your body beyond normal limits to sell an unattainable vision to the masses. Often the very products being sold are innocuous (like protein powder) or generic workout plans – the real key ingredient (steroids/HGH/etc.) isn’t included in the sale. This is why many see it as outright fraud. Social media has also enabled a surge of “online coaches” who may have no credentials besides a great physique, yet earn big money from gullible clients. Some of these coaches have been exposed for giving cookie-cutter or harmful advice (like extreme diets or steroid regimens) while charging premium prices, riding on the aura of their Instagram body.
Even beyond PEDs, influencers promote body image extremes that can be unhealthy. For example, many male fitness models stay extremely lean year-round (for photoshoots), something that can wreak havoc on hormones and mood – yet they present it as sustainable. Female fitness influencers often present highly curated images that may involve subtle muscle-enhancing filters or surgical enhancements, all tagged #natty. The net effect on the public – especially young fans – can be body dysmorphia, anxiety, and a feeling of inadequacy for not looking like these supposed ideals. It also can lead some to follow suit with unsupervised steroid use or disordered eating to chase the same look. This “exploitive monetization of unrealistic body ideals” is at the heart of the scam argument: the fitness industry dangles almost unattainable physiques in front of people to make them buy things, knowing full well most customers will never achieve the advertised result.
To be fair, not every fitness influencer lies – there are many honest educators. But the platforms are so saturated with misleading content that even savvy users can be fooled. The Guardian piece highlighted that thousands of influencers claim their bulging muscles are “just hard, honest graft”, and asks pointedly: “Should we believe them?” . Increasingly, the answer from experts is no – skepticism is warranted, and consumers are advised to look for red flags (like extreme vascularity, rapid transformations, or too-good-to-be-true supplement claims). The Liver King incident has, at least, sparked more public discussion about fake naturals. In its wake, communities online have become more vocal in calling out suspected fakes, and some influencers (e.g. bodybuilder Greg Doucette and YouTuber Derek of More Plates More Dates) dedicate content to exposing lies and educating on PED realities. Still, as long as the “shredded sells” economy persists, the incentive for new frauds remains. In essence, the fitness influencer landscape is a buyer-beware market – rife with exaggerated promises, hidden steroid use, and manipulated images that collectively amount to a scam perpetrated on naive followers chasing a fantasy.
Aspirational Marketing and the Economic Model: Selling the “Dream” vs. Reality
All of the above facets – supplements, PEDs, contests, and influencers – feed into a broader economic model that profits off aspirational marketing. The bodybuilding industry, in the wide sense, makes money by selling a dream: the dream of a bigger, leaner, more “perfect” body and the confidence and fame that supposedly come with it. From muscle magazines and Mr. Olympia broadcasts of the past to Instagram and supplement sponsorships today, the message is consistent: “You too can look like this or be a champion – if you work hard and buy what we’re selling.” Critics argue that for the vast majority of participants, this promise is misleading, because the outcomes being dangled are not realistically attainable for most people (at least not without extraordinary genetics, drugs, or extreme sacrifices). Thus, everyday consumers end up pouring time and money into an enterprise that is fundamentally stacked against them.
Consider the supplement segment: As noted, it’s a multi-billion dollar behemoth where 77% of Americans surveyed said they trust the supplement industry . That trust is largely built by savvy marketing that taps into people’s aspirations – “the idea of taking your health into your own hands is appealing,” as one report noted . For fitness enthusiasts, the appeal is taking your physique into your own hands. Magazines and websites are filled with success stories and advertisements showing individuals achieving sculpted bodies thanks to Product X or Program Y. Aspirational images are the norm: think of the classic supplement ad with a champion bodybuilder’s massive physique next to a tub of protein powder, implying causation. The average young man sees the ad and is convinced he needs those supplements to get huge. This aspirational marketing is so effective that even experienced weightlifters often overestimate what they can achieve naturally. The truth, as exercise scientists will attest, is that there are hard limits to muscle growth naturally, and only a small percentage of people have the genetic outlier ability to look like pro bodybuilders (even with steroids) . “All the steroids in the world couldn’t pack Mr. Olympia-winning muscle onto most people,” notes Dr. Stuart Phillips, a muscle physiology expert – top bodybuilders are genetically “rare” individuals in addition to their drug use . This means the idealized bodies used in industry marketing are out of reach for nearly everyone else, even if they use the same supplements or training routines. In other words, the product being sold (the dream) is often severely disconnected from attainable reality.
The economic structure of competitions also plays into aspirational exploitation. Every year, thousands of amateurs pay entry fees and NPC membership dues to compete, each hoping to win or at least eventually earn a pro card. Only a tiny fraction will ever go pro, and even fewer will earn significant prize money. (In 2023, for example, Mr. Olympia first place paid $400k and the total men’s open prize pool was around $1 million – split among the top 10 of dozens of pros. Lower-tier pro shows might pay the winner $10k–$20k. Meanwhile, an amateur may spend that much just to reach the pro level in the first place.) Most competitors actually operate at a financial loss, essentially paying for the experience or for a shot at glory. The federations, however, make money on each contest through fees and sponsors. This is why one promoter-turned-critic lamented that the system encourages “getting as many people onstage as possible” – more entrants means more revenue – even if it means most of those people go home empty-handed and disillusioned. There’s a saying that “bodybuilding is not a career, it’s an expensive hobby” for 99% of competitors. The scam critique here is that the industry rarely communicates how slim the odds are of reaching the top, letting people believe if they just grind hard enough, they can be the next champion or fitness star (despite structural and genetic barriers). This can lead individuals to sink enormous resources – money, years of training, even health via steroid use – chasing a largely unattainable goal, to the profit of those selling the dream.
Furthermore, the media and influencer engine reinforces aspirational narratives because it’s lucrative. Social platforms reward extreme content and bodies with likes and follows, so influencers keep pushing more extreme portrayals. Brands then sponsor those influencers to access their audience. The result is a constant feed of “fitspo” that sets the bar ever higher. A college newspaper analysis put it succinctly: achieving the shredded, photo-perfect body type is “impractical for most people because it is an expensive and time-consuming full-time job” – a job that may involve pharmacological help, which is never advertised. Yet, the industry downplays the downsides (steroid risks, genetic limits, costs) and up-sells the idea that anyone can do it. This is analogous to how multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes sell “financial freedom” while only a few at the top ever profit. In bodybuilding’s case, the winners circle is tiny, and often already predetermined by biology or insider support, but the customer base striving to get there is massive.
It’s important to note that not everyone sees this as malicious. Some argue that aspirational marketing in fitness can motivate people to improve their health or physique (even if they don’t reach superhero proportions). However, when the gap between marketing promise and achievable result becomes too wide, it veers into deception. Experts and honest pros often stress realistic goals and health over chasing the extreme ideal. Unfortunately, those voices are quieter in an industry built on “bigger is better”. As one investigative series concluded, modern bodybuilding pushes athletes to risk life and limb for the extreme look, because those extremes are what get rewarded by judges and hyped by media . The same extremes are what attract consumers’ attention (and dollars), creating a feedback loop of ever-more unrealistic standards.
In summary, the economics of bodybuilding indeed rely on “selling the dream”. The supplement companies, contest promoters, and influencers all profit by convincing people that they too can attain the superhuman ideal – or at least that they need various products and contests in that pursuit. The average gym-goer or amateur competitor, however, is largely being sold an illusion, since the top physiques require factors (drugs, genetics, possibly corruption) that are not advertised. This gap between the polished fantasy and the hidden reality is why many observers – from journalists to former insiders – describe the whole endeavor as something of a scam on hopeful young men and women. It’s a harsh assessment of a sport and industry that, at its best, can indeed inspire positive transformations – but at its worst, can exploit people’s hopes for profit.
To crystallize the key criticisms discussed, the table below summarizes the major issues often cited in claims that “bodybuilding is a scam,” along with supporting evidence and sources:
| Major Criticism | Description and Evidence |
| Misleading Supplement Marketing | Overhyped claims and under-regulation: The $39B supplement industry aggressively markets products with promises of rapid muscle gain or fat loss, without proving efficacy . Many supplements are spiked or mislabeled – up to 50% of tested supplements contained hidden steroids/stimulants . Notable companies were busted for selling illegal drugs as “natural” supplements (e.g. USPlabs spiked Jack3d with DMAA, causing liver damage and positive drug tests ). The FTC has penalized false ads (e.g. Weider’s “Anabolic Mega-Pak” vitamins falsely claimed to mimic steroids ). Consumers are thus routinely misled into buying expensive products of dubious value. |
| Widespread Steroid/PED Use | Hidden prevalence and “fake naturals”: The majority of high-level bodybuilders use anabolic steroids, HGH, insulin, etc., despite public claims of being “natural.” Nearly half of regional amateur competitors admitted using PEDs , and experts say winning elite titles drug-free is “impossible” . Many influencers and even contest athletes deceive followers about their drug use (e.g. the Liver King scandal – a muscular influencer selling a “natural” lifestyle was exposed for heavy steroid usage ). This creates a false image that anyone can achieve extreme physiques naturally, which is essentially a scam. |
| Health Consequences Ignored | Dangers of extreme PED use: The industry often downplays the severe health risks athletes incur. Long-term steroid abuse leads to heart enlargement, organ stress, and early death . Recent years saw a spate of young bodybuilder deaths – e.g. 15 noted competitors died in 2021 with 80% under age 50 . A 2025 study found elite bodybuilders’ risk of sudden cardiac death is 14× higher than amateurs . Autopsies show extensively damaged hearts . Yet the pursuit of the “mass monster” ideal continues to be encouraged by coaches and contests . Critics argue the industry’s willingness to sacrifice athletes’ health for bigger muscles is unethical and fraudulent. |
| Competition Corruption & Exploitation | Judging bias, favoritism, and federation politics: There is evidence that contest outcomes aren’t always fair sport. Insiders describe a “patronage system” in which federation bosses reward loyalists and pre-select winners . A former judge witnessed results being changed after a phone call from the head of the NPC/IFBB, indicating meddling in judging . Officials who criticize leadership have been blacklisted . Additionally, the NPC/IFBB has been accused of exploiting athletes financially: promoters must pay hefty fees and athletes invest heavily in competing, while federation leaders personally profit (e.g. through nepotistic business deals and opaque “management fees” ). There have also been scandals of sexual exploitation of athletes by officials . These corrupt practices suggest the “sport” can be rigged and exploitative, betraying the athletes and fans – essentially a scam run by those in power. |
| Deceptive Influencer Culture | “Fake natty” influencers and unrealistic ideals: Fitness influencers often present themselves as natural bodybuilding success stories and sell training programs, diet plans, or supplements based on their image. However, many have been exposed for using steroids or Photoshop while lying about it . This deceives followers into buying products to chase results they cannot realistically attain. The Liver King case – where an influencer built a $100M brand on a false natural persona – ended in a public apology and a fraud lawsuit . More broadly, social media is saturated with shredded, enhanced physiques presented as attainable, causing many to develop distorted expectations . The monetization of these false images (via sponsorships, coaching fees, etc.) is viewed as a scam preying on people’s body aspirations. |
| Aspirational Marketing “Dream” | Selling unrealistic outcomes for profit: Underpinning all of the above is an economic model that profits from the dream of looking like a champion. Bodybuilding publications and advertisers historically used steroid-using stars to pitch supplements as if anyone could achieve similar results . Today’s contests and brands continue to sell an illusion – encouraging thousands of paying amateurs to chase pro status, even though only a genetic elite (aided by PEDs) will ever reach the top . The average gym-goer is misled to believe extreme physiques are achievable if they buy the right products and work hard, when in fact those images are often unattainable for most. This gap between promise and reality fuels the claim that the industry is scamming consumers by selling fantasy as if it were fact. |
Conclusion: The label of “scam” may sound harsh for a sport that undoubtedly has passionate athletes and fans. Yet, as we’ve seen, there are deep-rooted patterns of deception, exploitation, and unrealistic promises in bodybuilding’s modern landscape. From supplement companies peddling bogus potions, to champions built on drugs while claiming clean living, to contests run with cartel-like tactics, each layer contains elements that betray the naive participant. None of this negates the genuine hard work bodybuilders put in – rather, it shows how that hard work is often manipulated and monetized by others. Aspiring bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts would do well to approach the industry with eyes open: be skeptical of miracle claims, understand the hidden enhancer use, prioritize health, and recognize that behind the glamorous images there may lie a profit-driven machine. Only with greater transparency and integrity – from supplement labels to contest judging to influencer honesty – can bodybuilding shake off the “scam” stigma and truly champion the principles of fairness, health, and honesty that any sport should uphold.