Thread: JUICED Part 3: Steroids and body image

Regina sports medicine doctor says steroid use appears to be on the rise

Reported by Kevin Martel
Jul 17, 2013 6:27am

The reasoning behind a person’s decision to take steroids isn’t as narrow as it might once have been. With increased pressure in society to look good, some are turning to the drugs to boost their body image.

News Talk Radio has been bringing you a closer look at steroid use in Saskatchewan this week with JUICED. With steroid use in Regina on the rise, according to a well-connected former user, we’ve heard how some people may have the misconception that steroids can be used without potential danger. In the final installment of this three-part series we discover just who is the most at risk.

“People assume that steroids are only used by athletes but probably more than 50 per cent of the steroids that are being used are actually being used by people who don’t even do sports. It’s only for an appearance basis that people are taking them,” said Regina-based sports medicine doctor Mike Nicholls.

Body image issues, such as eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia, are typically associated with women. But Nicholls said the flip side of that can happen in men; almost like a reverse type of anorexia, some men are developing an obsession with getting bigger which eventually becomes a very strong compulsion.

It would appear to be a growing mix of individuals deciding to use. Nicholls sees more and more middle-aged and older men taking steroids to enhance their appearance, leanness and muscle mass. He’s also finding an increasing number of teens giving the drug some thought.

“I think that it’s probably as popular as it’s ever been or as big a problem as it’s ever been. Studies in the US have ranged anywhere from four to 10 or 12 per cent of high school students, for example, have seriously considered or taken steroids,” he outlined.

A former steroid user living in Regina wishing to remain anonymous — we’ll call him Frank — thinks some of those kids might have the wrong impression.

“I think some of the things people don’t understand about these drugs is it’s not like it’s magic in a bottle. You still have to put the work and effort in. You still have to diet properly. It’s not something that just genetically changes your makeup and you wake up one day looking like a completely different person,” Frank said.

“Unfortunately a lot of people have that perception.”

Frank is under the belief that taking steroids can be done safely if you do your research and properly educate yourself.
But trying to pack on more muscle might come at a cost.

“The drug has differing effects on different tissues in the body and so where it has an increasing effect on muscle will have a corresponding increase of stress on the tendon because it’s not getting enhancement to the same level that the muscle might be,” said Regina physical therapist Scott Anderson.

Anderson said certain muscle tendon injuries might be considered a little more common in people abusing these drugs. An example is tearing your chest muscle. “It’s not a muscle that normally tears.”

That’s a risk some are willing to endure however. Frank certainly did when he was using. While he isn’t against someone taking steroids, he no longer feels the need to juice up himself.

Medical experts are registering their concern with more and younger people turning towards anabolic steroids. Perhaps the best they can hope for is that people take the time to educate themselves on the risks before making the decision to get juiced.

Great post. I agree with frank, one must do research tons of research and can be safely administered

It isn't magic in a bottle. If anything you work have to work ten times harder!

That's what I can't stand when my girl is like, 'it's all fake" - Basically you're telling me the hours I spend a week at the gym is fake time wasted? The time and effort I put into making sure I eat right, is fake? All the muscular development that I've gained over the two to three years is, fake?

Originally Posted by German89

It isn't magic in a bottle. If anything you work have to work ten times harder!

That's what I can't stand when my girl is like, 'it's all fake" - Basically you're telling me the hours I spend a week at the gym is fake time wasted? The time and effort I put into making sure I eat right, is fake? All the muscular development that I've gained over the two to three years is, fake?

Exactly.

Originally Posted by R92

Great post. I agree with frank, one must do research tons of research and can be safely administered

exactly....or you can be like me...full blown abuse!

Originally Posted by jdb3

exactly....or you can be like me...full blown abuse!

Lmfao that may work too!

Some people will never understand, who cares about them.