I will start off by saying that this is in no way a defense for the male health trend known as the "dad bod." The mere idea of 20-year-old men virtually giving up on any physical development to accept a body that their own father is most likely rocking is ridiculously unhealthy. That being said, the reason that I want to write this article is because it has been about a year since the dad bod craze started and there are some, believe it or not, actual pros who have come from the trend.
A look into the harsh realm which is the fitness world will reveal to any onlooker that fitness personalities are in a constant struggle to keep the gaze of attention on themselves and the various programs/products that they offer. In today's digital age, to actually be successful in the fitness industry is a monumental feat. The pressure on these individuals is absurd and often that pressure will trickle down to the average guys and gals who follow these peoples' advice. In my opinion, this is the source of the dad bod craze. The dad bod acts as a reaction to the insane standards of what it means to be an "attractive" man. The advice that some of these fitness personalities were dishing out got to such a laughable level that men everywhere basically gave up on even trying to keep up. Thankfully, there were women who were vocal enough to stand and actually put into words what the dad bod was. People everywhere began to realize that you didn't need to be a 200 lb, 5 percent body fat freak of nature to be attractive to women.
Quite quickly, the fitness industry united to combat the threat of the dad bod. They realized that there was an overall vibe of narcissism that was flowing through the veins of gyms and that this was where the dad bod was gaining steam.
This is why, on this day, I stand up and I say, "Thank you, dad bod. Thank you for making an self-absorbed industry take a big look in the mirror and realize they needed to cut the crap and make some changes for the sake of society." That may sound like a harsh critique, but if the dad bod had not come around, we would be stuck in an ever growing whirlwind of fitness idiots who simply spew pseudo science to anyone who will pay them a buck. I can't believe that I am saying this, but, dad bod, you have my respect.
