bodybuilding

Bodybuilding is a branch of strength training centred on changing body composition, especially increasing muscle mass while reducing excess body fat. A typical program includes compound lifts, isolation work, progressive overload, scheduled rest, and a structured eating plan with enough protein and adequate energy intake. Over months and years, people use it to improve strength, improve physical appearance, and refine muscle symmetry.

Unlike powerlifting or weightlifting, bodybuilding usually values how the body looks when posed or photographed as much as raw performance. In competition, judges often assess size, proportion, muscle definition, and overall conditioning across categories based on gender and weight class. Outside the stage, bodybuilders may still follow the same routines for lifestyle reasons—shaping physique, boosting confidence, or correcting posture and posture-related imbalances.

Historically, bodybuilding developed from early physical culture traditions and has become a global subculture with gyms, coaching, nutrition systems, and social communities built around progression logs, supplementation, and event preparation. The term is also used loosely for anyone who trains this way as a long-term habit, though in strict usage it can imply a more disciplined, goal-driven muscle-building program than casual gym work.