“They look like they are pregnant”: Arnold Schwarzenegger drops hilarious take on modern bodybuilding

Bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger has made immense contributions to the sport over the years. Despite his success in Hollywood and politics, Arnold Schwarzenegger remains an essential part of the bodybuilding community.

Over the years, Schwarzenegger has witnessed the sport change a lot, in terms of judging criteria and standards of a good physique.

In a recent interview with Jenny Powell in Birmingham, UK, Schwarzenegger gave his honest views on modern bodybuilders. He talked about their inflated stomachs, which he believes are caused by growth hormones. The seven-time Mr. Olympia champion stated that such hormones cause the bodybuilders' intestines to grow.

"Today when you look at bodybuilders, you know, they have a lot of the times this huge stomach and they look like they are pregnant. Like six-eight months pregnant up there on the stage. And I think it has a lot to do with the growth hormones that they are taking. Because when you take growth hormones, it makes your muscles grow but it also makes your intestines grow," Schwarzenegger said (16:41).

Schwarzenegger also talked about the unfortunate frequency of early deaths in the bodybuilding community caused by drug use. He added:

"Also they take other drugs that are very dangerous for your health and that's why you see every so often now, people actually dying. You know they are young, they are in their 30s, and they are dying because of taking too much of these drugs." (17:05)

Arnold Schwarzenegger's views on steroid epidemic

'The Austrian Oak' has been open about his own steroid usage in the past. Back then, using such compounds wasn't illegal. Despite this, however, Arnold and other golden-era bodybuilders like Frank Zane have claimed multiple times that they took really small dosages.

However, with time, the parameters of a good physique have evolved a lot. Bodybuilders are taking abusive dosages of performance-enhancing drugs. Arnold Schwarzenegger believes it is next to impossible to put a complete stop to these practices.

"This is bodybuilding not body destroying. But you know the society itself is such that everyone is taking medications for something... We always talk about that we should get off performance-enhancing drugs but everyone, the whole society, the whole world is taking something. So it's very hard to get people off." (17:22)

What are your views on Arnold Schwarzenegger's comments? Let us know in the comments.