Pumping iron latest fad in Baghdad

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(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-21 10:53

BAGHDAD: Across a mirrored room from stationary bikes and an occasional treadmill, men in tank tops knock back protein shakes and pump iron to loud hip hop.

It's a common scene in America - and the latest craze in Baghdad.

Pumping iron latest fad in Baghdad

In a city of few diversions and long cut off from the outside world, the boom in health clubs represents another sign that Iraq is slowly emerging from decades of dictatorship and war.

At least 300 gyms and fitness centers are believed to be operating in Baghdad, compared with about 30 before the 2003 US-led invasion, according to people who work in the industry.

The invasion toppled Saddam Hussein and opened Iraq to the world after a quarter of a century of political and cultural isolation.

"The arrival of satellite television in Iraq opened our eyes to many things, including the need to be fit," Haidar Mouwaffak, a 28-year-old auto parts salesman, said between reps at the Hummer Gym in Karradah, a central district that has become Baghdad's trend setter neighborhood.

"I want to look good, be physically strong and live in style," Mouwaffak said.

The popularity of health clubs reflects slowly changing attitudes in a country where healthy living has never been a priority.

Taking up smoking is virtually a rite of passage for many young men. The meat-based Iraqi diet is rich in saturated fat, and huge bellies on men as young as 20 are not uncommon.

Most Baghdad gyms are for men only, although some have designated women-only hours.

And for men, it's the macho stuff, mostly. There's a much longer wait at peak hours for the weight racks than for the cardio equipment.

One gym owner even bemoans what he says is the wide use of muscle growth hormones and steroids smuggled from Iran.

Sabah Taleb runs one of the city's older gyms - The Arnold Classic - named after boyhood hero Schwarzenegger. No fewer than 140 pictures of the California governor from his body building days adorn the walls of Taleb's gym, by his own count.

Although improved security in Baghdad made the gym boom possible, city streets are still not as safe as they were under Saddam.

Taleb, 49, said that before the US invasion his gym was open from 6 am until midnight. Now, it closes at 8 pm.

"The security situation has improved somewhat, but I cannot remain open until midnight because going home so late could be dangerous for me," he said.