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Recently, there has been growing concern about unhealthy body image representation among male actors, particularly those in action and superhero roles who face pressure to look like their comic book counterparts.

Hugh Jackman and Henry Cavill have both faced criticism in this regard. Cavill was criticized for his dehydration methods during the filming of Man of Steel, while Jackman has been scrutinized for his strict diet regimen to maintain a lean physique in his 50s for his role as Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Although we know that the physiques we see on screen result from more than just diets and workouts, hearing a medical expert’s perspective adds a new dimension, according to Dr. Todd Schroeder, associate professor of clinical physical therapy and director of the USC Clinical Exercise Research Center, speaking to Variety, achieving such physiques may be nearly impossible.

Though forbidden by sports leagues, many steroid treatments are perfectly legal.

In recent times there’s been a lot of discussion regarding unhealthy body image representation among male actors. Primarily action stars and superhero movies stars who are often under pressure to look like their very superhuman counterparts ripped from the pages of comics.

Both Hugh Jackman and Henry Cavill have found themselves as the target of criticism, Cavill for his dehydration strategy in ‘Man of Steel’ and Jackman for his rigorous diet to maintain a lean physique in his 50s to portray Wolverine in the ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’

While we are aware that the bodies we see on screen are a product of much more than just diets and workouts, it hits differently when you get a medical perspective on it, and if Dr. Todd Schroeder, associate professor of clinical physical therapy and director of the University of Southern California Clinical Exercise Research Center at the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy,...