I actually quite enjoyed the programme. I agree with you that the programme was more focusing on the social pressures of men needing to look a certain way. Rather like how women have a pressure to look a certain way which leads them to do extreme things to their bodies, men are having increasingly the same problem. It seemed more fixated on the pressures of looking "good" rather than focusing on "fitness" per se. Reminded me a bit of one of Louis Theroux's documentary and people obsessed with plastic surgery. Personally I would have liked him to interview someone who looks good and has taken steroids just to balance the arguement but don't know about the moral issues the BBC may have with that.
Anways the people he interviewed were (no other way to put it) douchebags yes. But I did find interesting some of the points they brought up. Like that Welsh guy talking about his obsession with gym and wanting respect from his peers. I think many of us can relate to an obsession of hitting their gym goals or wanting to impress others in the gym. I definitely have had some of those issues until I realised whats more important to me is balancing strength, fitness and a good diet. Once I started watching a few Youtube videos of Elliot Hulse (earlier stuff), Candito training etc, you open your eyes as to what a "strong healthy body" is and what we perceive as a "perfect" body. Not the same thing. I think if that Welsh guy actually had a decent training routine he would of looked much better. I would have liked the show to have a message like "focus on strength and building your body before starting to shape it".
In terms of steroids I think it is hard to advocate steroids. Reggie was a bit preachy in that section which annoyed me slightly. The guys selling the steroids made a good point. From their side they were making sure the stuff is safe. Its up to the person to use it responsibly. You think someone who makes alcohol or tabacco thinks "oh its my fault for people suffering from alcoholism or chain smoking"? I personally don't see anything wrong with it with the right amount of education. Something Dave Crosland breifly touched upon. Not pro use or against use, pro education. Ultimately the main reason why steroids is so demonised in the fitness industry is the fact it represents "cheating" and ofcourse money. If any "fitness" guru or Youtube "gymer" admitted to using steroids they would instantly lose a lot of sponsors plus most importantly respect. I think if we were more open to talk about steroids as a society then I think it would actually be less harmful cause at least hopefully kids would be more inclined to learn more about them. I know this will never happen but if more people were open to using steroids this would help ease the pressure young men feel about their bodies. On the other hand they would most likely lose a **** load of money on bull**** body building supplements.
Sorry bro a lot of stuff I have written there but the programme did make me think a lot more about fitness and stuff in general.