# Washboard Abs - Any purpose or are they only for vanity? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 5, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washboard-abs-any-purpose-or-are-they-only-for-vanity/611890 "2012-02-05T20:48:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washboard-abs-any-purpose-or-are-they-only-for-vanity/611890/41 "2012-02-07T10:13:15Z")
What kind of equipment did [this guy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:David_von_Michelangelo.jpg) use? ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washboard-abs-any-purpose-or-are-they-only-for-vanity/611890/42 "2012-02-07T17:23:25Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > What kind of equipment did [this guy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:David_von_Michelangelo.jpg) use? Look for yourself. It’s right there for you and everyone to see. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washboard-abs-any-purpose-or-are-they-only-for-vanity/611890/43 "2012-02-07T18:18:21Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Then why do wrestlers and boxers practically starve themselves to “make weight”? They lose weight mostly by dehydration. The idea is dehydrate, make a lower weight class, and then re-hydrate and you can compete at a higher natural weight, where you are bigger than your opponents. Often wrestlers at least will try to keep their bodyweight close to a weight limit. That way, they can go up or down a class depending on the strategy of their coach in a team meet. Strong abs are an advantage. Visible abs are not, except in bodybuilding. Often those with visible abs have naturally low levels of bodyfat. And the restricted diet necessary to produce visible abs is often bad for athletic performance, and with no payoff - nobody cares how buff you are in competitions other than bodybuilding. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washboard-abs-any-purpose-or-are-they-only-for-vanity/611890/44 "2012-02-07T19:40:27Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > What kind of equipment did [this guy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:David_von_Michelangelo.jpg) use? Lot’s of people has washboard abs back then, all it took was access to the right equipment, the proper diet, a little peer pressure and [teamwork](http://www.fitforlifesolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/teamwork-teamwork-ben-hur-rowing-slaves-demotivational-poster-1233563070.jpg)! ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washboard-abs-any-purpose-or-are-they-only-for-vanity/611890/45 "2012-02-07T20:17:56Z")
The “washboard” look is not uncommon in males from foraging societies, even though they don’t perform any special exercises to develop them. Take a look at these indigenous Australians: [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bathurst_Island_men.jpg) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bathurst_Island_men.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washboard-abs-any-purpose-or-are-they-only-for-vanity/611890.md?page=2)