Bodybuilding is the practice of progressive resistance exercise to build, control, and develop one's muscles via hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. It is primarily undertaken for aesthetic purposes over functional ones, distinguishing it from similar activities such as powerlifting and calisthenics.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, one of the most notable figures in bodybuilding, 1974
A bodybuilder performs the incline dumbbell press.
The Farnese Hercules, 216 AD
Eugen Sandow, often referred to as the "Father of Modern Bodybuilding"
Muscle hypertrophy or muscle building involves a hypertrophy or increase in size of skeletal muscle through a growth in size of its component cells. Two factors contribute to hypertrophy: sarcoplasmic hypertrophy, which focuses more on increased muscle glycogen storage; and myofibrillar hypertrophy, which focuses more on increased myofibril size. It is the primary focus of bodybuilding-related activities.
Athletes use a combination of strength training, diet, and nutritional supplementation to induce muscle hypertrophy.
Strength training is used to regulate muscle hypertrophy.