Zac Efron’s Workout Regimen for Iron Claw May Have Put Him at Risk for Stroke, According to Experts

The problem? Health experts are flagging the workout routine he did to get him to this point, stating that it could put the average person at risk for a stroke or other medical emergencies.

The outlet cited specialists from Set for Set, who confirmed — stating that “there is no practical reason to put [one’s] body under that much pressure and stress.”

The real culprit behind the concerns of death is a lack of oxygen over time, as those workouts typically have high oxygen demands to keep all of the muscles going quickly. This puts additional strain on the cardiovascular system, which can lead to a heart attack.

He interviewed with The Rake Magazine, confirming that he didn’t socialize while filming. “I was fully committed to the gym,” he said. “Wake up, ice bath, trying to find decent food, then training upwards of two hours per day.”

The truth? “[Training] was a singular focus for months,” the actor told Variety. “Your life goes out the window during prep. That necessity to be perfect became an obsession.”

The outlet cites its explanation for mental (as well as physical) health concerns. “Pushing both your body and mind to the extreme to achieve unattainable results can be damaging in the long run,” Set for Set experts told the outlet.

The Daily Mail confirms risks that include high blood pressure, weight gain, or weight fluctuation, among the previously stated risks. Beyond the actual physical risks, working out to this caliber consistently can lead to unnecessary mental stress.

He has also said that in addition to this grueling routine, he would do volume training — eventually gaining 15 pounds of pure muscle. He would also wrestle in the actual scenes, which meant hours per day of movement.

Bulking is a casual term that bodybuilders use to define a period of time where they consume more calories than they need to fuel their workouts per Healthline. This works to build muscle quickly over time.

Data from the University of Sydney confirms that male bodybuilders usually eat 3,800+ calories per day when bulking, while women average 3,200+ (via The Daily Mail).

“Unless you’re an actor or a professional bodybuilder, there is no … reason to put your body under that much pressure and stress. … It can lead to catastrophic results that cannot always be easily reversed,” the experts said.

You might gain mental stress as well. When interviewed by Variety, Zac Efron noted that “having all that weight on, you don’t feel normal.”