Dr. Eed Lorpayoon emphasized that fitness is not determined solely by having six-pack abs and stated that View Kulawut should not be judged based on a single photograph of him.
On 18 Jan 2026 GMT+7, View Kulawut Wititsant, Thailand's national men's singles badminton player, world champion, and Olympic silver medalist, had a photo posted by netizens on social media showing him shirtless during a match, with coach Pae Phatthapon Ngernsi Suk closely training him at the India Open tournament.
Some netizens criticized View's physique, noting he may not have as much muscle as other athletes and lacks defined six-pack abs, which sparked widespread discussion.
Dr. Eed Lorpayoon, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and part of the Thai national sports medical team, posted on Facebook that judging an athlete’s fitness solely from a shirtless photo is inappropriate. Instead, one should consider the athlete’s performance during competition, including strength, speed, endurance, and agility.
Can someone with this physique be a world-class badminton athlete? This is him—clearly visible. He has a slight belly but well-proportioned, and has muscle even if not sharply defined.
Using a single post-match shirtless photo to judge an athlete’s fitness is unfair. Fitness assessment should consider multiple factors such as power, strength, speed, endurance, agility, and recovery ability after fatigue.
An athlete does not need six-pack abs to demonstrate fitness. However, excess body fat can affect performance because it adds weight during play. Sometimes, during competition, athletes consume a lot of carbohydrates and fluids, which can cause some belly bloating, especially in the lower abdomen. But starving or overly reducing fat to the point it harms performance is not advisable, as it varies by individual body types.
In sports medicine, we do not base fitness assessments on external appearance alone. We measure fitness performance in all aspects. Body composition is one indicator often assessed by body fat percentage. Generally, male badminton players with 8-14% body fat are considered appropriate, while bodybuilders aim for 6-8%.
No one knows better than the athlete himself. If he feels good at this level, that is fine. If he thinks it would be better to reduce a bit, he should try to do so correctly—reducing fat, not muscle.
Regarding cortisol and abdominal fat in athletes, it is not appropriate to use this to explain fitness. Elevated cortisol from intense exercise is normal because athletes follow periodization. This differs from patients who have chronically high cortisol leading to central obesity. These are two different matters.
Do you know about body shaming? It’s fine to joke with friends, but saying such things to the general public is inappropriate.
**With permission from View and those close to him whose photos were shared, it is known that Thongyot Khao has sports scientists and nutritionists closely supporting him. We continue to cheer him on from afar for the long run.**