In the current episode of the “Flex for Life podcast,” Flex Wheeler and Greg Nagaye dove into a serious issue bodybuilders are facing these days.

Nagaye raised the issue of bodybuilders dying from medical complications.

In response, Flex Wheeler said, “Something's going on that wasn't going on before. I don't know whether it's the sports technology d**** that they're getting aren't as pure. I don't know if it's them overdoing it and taking too much…. but we need to figure it out because people are losing their lives... There needs to be some accountability cause it's an epidemic now.”

According to a study published in the European Heart Journal in August 2025 calculated mortality rates among bodybuilders and recommended "improved preventive measures to promote safer sports participation."

Wheeler also suggested visiting a doctor every three months. He said to keep tracking the blood report for a well-informed decision “on whether you're going to continue going or not”.

And a Reason Behind Flex Wheeler's Concern For Athletes Is His Own Medical History

Over a decade after his 2003 surgeries, medical complications led to the amputation of Wheeler's leg. And according to him, the pain still lingers, despite medication.

"Oh yeah, nothing knocks it out…even when I’m in the hospital, I’m on all of the IVs, opiates, it still doesn’t knock it out. All those do is put me in, like a mind state where I’m hallucinating so much, I don’t really know what’s going on."

As a result, Wheeler is trying to keep young bodybuilders healthy and safe.

Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar