Tonight’s Hack Special On Body Image Talked Selfies, Steroids & Surgery

Tonight, Hack on Triple J aired another live TV special following on from the super successful ‘Australians on Drugs’ and ‘Australians on Porn, this time named ‘Hack Live on Body Obsession‘. 

This time, the show focussed on body image, and the negative body image issues that many of us experience in everyday life. 

The show featured some household names, and some regular people who had important and/or inspiring stories to tell. The panel discussed and shared personal experiences with anorexia and other eating disorders, body dysmorphia, fitness bloggers (and how they affect body image), addiction to working out, steroid use, plastic surgery and general lack of confidence.

From Bryce, who is considering a cycle of steroids and is vocal about ‘not caring if his nuts shrink’, to gym owner Fady, who openly admitted this steroid use ended in depression, skin issues and drug use, due to continually pushing barriers to get bigger and bigger. 

The obsession with gym and steroid use, especially Bryce’s positivity to become as big as possible, was quickly downplayed by both a psychologist, who spoke of the mental health effects of steroid use, and a doctor, who slammed down on Bryce and told him nearly every major and minor side effect. Despite hearing he could suffer from testicular cancer, kidney failure and cardiac arrest, he said he is ‘set in his ways’. 

We also heard from Ashy Bines, who spoke of how ‘real and balanced’ her life is, and a young woman called Kaitlyn who had recovered from anorexia, and said that fitness bloggers such as Ashy do have a negative impact on people who have eating disorders. Megan, who is suffering from bulimia currently, said that she felt like fitness blogs and pro-ana (anorexia) websites have similar messages. 

Ashy also had to tackle essentially all of the panel asking her why the hell she thought it was okay to comment on the health of plus-size model Tess Holliday on Instagram recently. 

I know this may cause people to get upset. But something id like to speak about and don’t mean to offend anyone at all please know that and anyone who attacks me or calls me horrible names you will be blocked. I might not be perfect at wording the message I’m trying to get across but my intentions are not evil. . The girl on the left is obviously underweight – yes she maybe genetically small but it’s pretty obvious she is not healthy and has not been eating a well balanced diet and would be on 500 or less calories a day to achieve her body – nor is she a good role model for young women. I hope she has some support around her to help her change her lifestyle . . The girl on the right I’ve seen in recent articles and apparently is an ” inspiration” to the younger generation – I also think she is not a good role model for young girls. . Thin girls are slammed ALOT these days but females who are carrying more weight than what they should for there bodies, organs , moods , bones , cells etc to be ” healthy” are now inspirations because they are confident in their swimsuit? . I think it’s FANTASTIC she feels comfortable but at the same time I don’t think it’s a healthy body image that should be applauded. . It’s not about having a 6 pack or no cellulite on your booty but HEALTH is not either of these photos. . Now I’m not saying I’m perfect or anything like that but I just think it’s sad that women who are obviously eating a lot more than what they need and not moving their bodies to be fit , strong and healthy are getting praise. I’m not saying either are ” ugly or ANYTHING like that ” just don’t think either are healthy role models and shouldn’t be given praise. . There is no ” perfect” body and no two bodies are the same BUT it is obvious when someone is living an extreme lifestyle one end or the other and I hope girls find other role models to help them achieve a healthy lifestyle. It’s always my goal for women to FEEL and look their best and teaching them balance and a healthy active happy lifestyle. . Remember ANYONE who is making rude nasty comments think before you type as you will be blocked.

A photo posted by Snapchat : ashybines1 (@ashybines) on Feb 21, 2016 at 10:12pm PST

Ashy tried desperately to explain that Holliday couldn’t possibly be healthy because she’s overweight, which was met by almost the entire panel yelling that health exists at every size. Oh, and the doctor told Ashy that she was deadset wrong, too. 

But, an absolute shining highlight of the show was Kurt Coleman, who made an entirely ~PERF LIKE KURT~ speech about how ‘he doesn’t love his looks, he loves who he is because he’s an amazing person’. 

Honestly, how did they fit so much into an hour and a bit? SO MANY different topics and interesting lived experiences were brought into play. 

It got pretty heated and loud at the end there, just like the ‘Australians on Porn’ special did, but Tom Tilley‘s interrupting abilities have gotten wayyyy better, he roped ’em in good and proper. Pretty impressive, yo, pretty impressive.