Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman recently discussed how bodybuilding culture has created unexpected barriers to widespread adoption of resistance training, despite growing scientific evidence for its health benefits. He talked about it in a recent podcast with Chris Williamson.
“I do think that the bodybuilding culture has kind of distracted from what’s possible with resistance training as a positive health stimulus,” Huberman explained. “A lot of people are still averse to it.”
The issue, according to Huberman, stems from the extreme physiques and lifestyle demands associated with competitive bodybuilding. When people think of resistance training, they often envision bodybuilders rather than understanding the broader health applications.
“It’s also the way that bodybuilding changes the entire relationship to food in general and to life in general,” he noted. While acknowledging the athletic achievements of bodybuilders like Dorian Yates, Huberman pointed out that the all-consuming nature of competitive bodybuilding can make the practice seem inaccessible or undesirable to average people seeking basic health improvements.
The visual disconnect becomes particularly problematic when people “don’t exactly see the picture of health” when looking at competitive bodybuilders. This creates a misleading association between resistance training and an extreme lifestyle that most people neither want nor need.
Interestingly, Huberman credits bodybuilding pioneer Mike Mentzer with introducing him to efficient resistance training at age 16. Menser, known for his high-intensity training philosophy, sold Huberman his first training program and became an unexpected mentor.
“Mike didn’t talk. Mike barked,” Huberman recalled. Menser would emphasize focusing solely on his methods, often dismissing other gym advice harshly. But beyond training, Menser encouraged Huberman’s academic development and provided reading lists that influenced his intellectual growth.
The key insight Menser shared was about mind-muscle connection. “As you get better at training, the neural component of contracting the muscles that you’re trying to contract, you actually can get by with fewer sets because you’re able to direct more intensity to those muscle groups,” Huberman explained.
The unfortunate consequence of bodybuilding’s dominance in resistance training imagery is that people miss the universal health benefits. Resistance training offers advantages for “men, women, young and old,” yet the bodybuilding association creates hesitation, particularly among demographics who see no connection between themselves and competitive physique athletes.
Huberman trains three to four days weekly, doing approximately six to eight sets per muscle group, following principles learned from Menser decades ago. This moderate approach demonstrates that effective resistance training requires neither extreme volume nor lifestyle obsession.
While resistance training has gained broader acceptance in recent years, Huberman believes the bodybuilding shadow still lingers. The public increasingly understands that building muscle and strength offers metabolic, cognitive, and longevity benefits extending far beyond aesthetics.
The challenge lies in decoupling resistance training from its bodybuilding image and repositioning it as fundamental health practice, comparable to cardiovascular exercise or proper nutrition. Until this shift completes, bodybuilding culture will continue creating unnecessary barriers for people who could benefit most from adding resistance training to their lives.
