David Dobrik returns to YouTube after three years and stuns fans with extreme body transformation

I don’t know about you, but every now and again it feels like we’re living in a big throwback era.

From the return of noughties fashion to reboots of TV shows and now, the return of one of YouTube’s biggest names.

Yep, in case you missed the viral photos on social media, David Dobrik is back.

But it’s less so his return to making videos that’s the big online chatter and more his somewhat extreme body transformation.

The 28-year-old first started his vlogs on the site back in 2015 and was of course the leader of the controversial The Vlog Squad.

Dobrik racked up millions of subscribers and became a huge name as a media personality, winning a number of awards and being named in Forbes 30 Under 30.

But he left YouTube in March 2022 with no real return until last Tuesday (7 January).

And while fans were buzzing to see him back on the platform, they were also shocked by his ripped physique.

When he’d last been seen making videos, he’d been spending time testing out pizza recipes for his business, Doughbrik’s.

But in December 2023, he admitted he realised he needed to ‘make some health changes’ as he called the way he looked ‘crazy’.

“I've never, ever taken my health seriously,” he said in a clip. “I've always told myself [I’ll get in shape], like, 'The next month. The next year. When I'm done with this vlog. When I'm done with the vlog.'”

And now he says it’s been a ‘year in the making’ as he shared Instagram posts of his transformation.

With an impressive six-pack of abs, he wrote: “New year, new me, new vlog.”

Dobrik added: “I couldn’t be more grateful for the people around me that pushed me this year to be a better version of myself. I owe everything to all my friends and especially Ilya who has literally changed my life.

“I love ya dude. I don’t feel like pudding anymore !!!!”

And in his first YouTube video back, friends like Noah Beck and Charli D’Amelio were left impressed as he showed his fitness transformation, giving credit to trainer Ilya Fedorovich.

Some users did think the photos were ‘AI’ as others congratulated him on his journey.

“David Dobrik making his comeback by flexing is abs was not on my 2025 bingo card,” another wrote.

That’s something others share too, as people say his return was not ‘on their bingo card’.