Why Indian Men Are Secretly Battling Body Dysmorphia: The Gym’s Dark Side

By Priya Sahay

Updated on May 14, 2025
IST 12:29 pm

“Six-packs won’t fix your self-esteem—the silent crisis haunting India’s gym bros.”

In a nation where cricket legends like Virat Kohli and Bollywood heartthrobs like Hrithik Roshan set the bar for what it means to be a man, Indian men are locked in a quiet, exhausting fight—not against opponents, but against their own mirrors. The gym, once a place to sweat out stress or prep for gully cricket, has turned into a pressure cooker where self-worth is weighed in kilos of muscle and scoops of whey protein. Picture this: Ravi, a 22-year-old from Hyderabad, spends hours flexing in front of his gym’s foggy mirror, convinced his biceps aren’t “big enough.” Or Sameer, a 35-year-old from Kolkata, secretly injecting steroids to keep up with his younger colleagues, all while hiding the side effects from his wife. These aren’t just random tales—they’re snapshots of a growing crisis among Indian men aged 15 to 45. Body dysmorphia, steroid abuse, and a mental health stigma thicker than Mumbai traffic are rewriting the rules of masculinity. So, why are we here, and how deep does this rabbit hole go? Grab your cutting chai, kick back, and let’s unpack this heavy load.

The Bollywood Blueprint: Unreal Standards, Real Pressure

In India, being a man comes with a script: strong jawline, broad shoulders, and a body that could star in a Karan Johar blockbuster. From Salman Khan’s shirtless swagger to John Abraham’s sculpted abs, the media dishes out a feast of “perfect” masculinity. Toss in Instagram reels of ripped influencers and gym selfies captioned #BeastMode, and suddenly, every guy feels like he’s auditioning for the lead role in his own life. For the 15-year-olds scrolling TikTok and the 40-year-olds eyeing their beer bellies, the message is loud: if you don’t look the part, you’re out of the club.

Meet Vikram, a 17-year-old from Chandigarh. “My classmates flex their gains online, and I feel like a side character,” he says, half-laughing, half-sighing. It’s not just teenage angst—a 2023 study from the Indian Journal of Psychiatry noted a 35% spike in body image struggles among Indian men over the last decade. The blame? A cocktail of desi machismo and digital peacocking. It’s like we’ve taken our love for larger-than-life heroes and turned it into a measuring tape for self-esteem.

The Gym Game: From Fit to Fixated

It starts innocently enough—a New Year’s resolution, a dare from a buddy, or maybe a chance to catch someone’s eye. The gym feels like a playground at first: the clank of weights, the burn of a good set, the high of a new PR. But for some, it’s a slippery slope. Muscle dysmorphia—a sneaky cousin of body dysmorphia—creeps in, whispering that you’re never big enough, never lean enough. It’s like running after a train that’s already left the station—no matter how fast you go, you’re still behind.

Dr. Neha Sharma, a Delhi-based psychologist, puts it bluntly: “It’s not fitness anymore; it’s obsession. The gym becomes a crutch for insecurities, but it doesn’t fix the root.” Take Ravi from Hyderabad. He’s up at 5 a.m. for cardio, back at 7 p.m. for weights, and skips biryani nights to “stay on track.” Yet, he confesses, “I look in the mirror and see a stick figure.” A 2024 FitIndia survey backs this up—28% of male gym-goers show signs of muscle dysmorphia, often blind to it themselves. The gym’s no longer a temple; it’s a treadmill to nowhere.

Steroids: The Devil’s Deal

When the mirror doesn’t budge and the compliments don’t come, some men roll the dice on a shortcut: steroids. It’s the gym’s open secret—passed around in hushed tones, slipped into gym bags by “helpful” trainers. Sameer from Kolkata fell hard. “I wanted to look jacked for my cousin’s wedding,” he says. “A guy at the gym said, ‘Try this—it’s quick.’” Quick it was—bulk came, but so did rage, pimples, and a gnawing dread about his health.

The numbers don’t lie. A 2023 National Drug Dependence Centre report clocked a 50% rise in steroid cases among Indian men under 30. The fallout? Heart risks, liver damage, even infertility. But the real kicker is the silence. “You can’t tell anyone,” Sameer admits. “It’s like confessing you’re a fraud.” In a culture where strength is king, steroids are the throne nobody wants to admit they’re sitting on.

The Mind Maze: Mental Health’s Silent Scream

Here’s where it gets heavy. While Indian men are bench-pressing their limits, their minds are buckling under the strain. Anxiety, depression, and self-doubt hide behind the barbells, but talking about it? That’s as rare as a quiet day in Old Delhi. “Real men don’t crack,” we’re told, and it’s a straitjacket tightening with every rep. Dr. Sharma sees it daily: “Men come in with body image woes, but they’d rather lift than spill.”

Consider Arjun, 29, from Ahmedabad. He’s got biceps that could crack coconuts, but inside, he’s crumbling. “I filter every selfie,” he says. “I’m terrified people will see the flaws.” It’s a loop—chasing muscle for approval, only to feel emptier. With mental health chats still taboo and therapists as accessible as snow in Chennai, most guys are left shadowboxing their own heads.

Rewriting the Rules: Strength Beyond the Six-Pack

So, how do we break this cycle? First, let’s ditch the idea that biceps equal value. Fitness isn’t about sculpting a statue—it’s about feeling alive. Dr. Sharma suggests flipping the script: “Focus on what your body can do, not just how it looks.” Swap the weight rack for a cricket bat, a swim, or some desi wrestling—stuff that builds you up without tearing you down.

Next, let’s crack open the mental health vault. Groups like MindFit India are stepping up, creating spaces where men can unload without the “mard bano” guilt trip. Arjun tried it and grins, “It’s better than any deadlift PR.” Therapy’s not weakness—it’s a power move. And steroids? Gyms need to lead the charge—push clean gains, call out the risks, and ditch the shady vials.

Conclusion: Muscle Isn’t the Whole Man

India’s gym bros are stuck in a storm they didn’t see coming, chasing a masculinity that’s as flimsy as a protein bar wrapper. Body dysmorphia, steroid traps, and mental health silence are the shadows of our fitness frenzy—it’s time we shine a light. True strength isn’t in the mirror; it’s in owning who you are, dents and all.

Next time you’re tempted to bulk up for the ‘gram, pause and think: who’s this for? And if you’re wrestling with this, know you’re not solo. Drop your story below—let’s build a crew that’s strong inside and out.