Rule Of Thumb: Undisclosed Steroid Use On Social Media

Ralf Hiemisch

Social media platforms have become the spot in the fitness community to show off impressive physiques and build a career selling workout plans or posting sponsored advertisements. However, with influencers posting images displaying Greek god-like body types and chalking it up to hard work, it creates speculation of steroid use among the community.

Anabolic steroid use to enhance athletic performance in sports competitions is illegal and generally considered morally wrong and cheating. Yet, despite the negative health consequences, many still choose to take steroids for personal performance enhancement.

With the fitness community drawing infinitely more competitive, it becomes more likely that influencers hoping to build careers will turn to appearance-enhancing options to stand out from the crowd and increase followers, likes, and income.

Consumers will buy a fitness influencer's workout and diet plans, supplements they use, and clothes they wear if we are told it works and they are the physical evidence it does. But are fitness influencers disclosing everything that they use that has gotten them to how they look now?

Those that are using steroids without disclosure are gaining more than just strength and muscle size. Bodybuilding influencers have taken to social media to display their physique, share training tips, and build careers through brand sponsorships. With some of the most followed influencers making over $500k a year, their appearance is their brand. That means maintaining an incredible physique is a must because, realistically, we will take fitness advice from someone who looks like they work out.

Physical appearance and muscle size are genetic; there is some limitation to how good we can look. Just as hair and eye color are decided upon by our genetic makeup, we have well-defined abs, large biceps, or predominant glutes. In an industry where followers and likes are correlated with success, influencers are driven to improve upon their brand, ultimately coming down to how they look. Furthermore, the fitness industry is overcrowded with individuals all trying to make their lifestyle go from a hobby to a career. It is not enough to look good anymore; influencers have to be extraordinary to stand out from the crowd.

So when asked how fitness influencers maintain a shredded physique and constantly hit their personal best lifts year-round, they attribute it to good genetics, training hard, and following a strict diet. While this might be true for some, the other answer is not so widely discussed about his steroid use.

If getting to the top of the fitness influencer community meant being recognized by some of the largest sports brands, having thousands - if not millions - of supportive fans, and being paid to do what you are passionate about, who wouldn't consider taking steroids and performance-enhancing drugs to get there?

Casually taking stimulants such as ephedrine and SARMs, to burn body fat and increase strength is not uncommon, just not talked about. Despite the severity of the decision to take steroids and the slew of health risks associated, individuals may say, "It hurts only me, so why does society care?"

The majority of influencers are not using steroids to win sporting competitions. Instead, they are doping to enhance their aesthetic. It can be argued that it is for their gain, and they have the right to do what they want with their bodies. Does this case hold up, or does an influencer's steroid use inherently impact society?

What is wrong with steroids in the fitness community is not so much taking the substance, but more so the lies surrounding its use. As their job title suggests, influencers can sway their audience's perspective and decision-making. With 81 percent of teenagers and young adults using social media, this demographic is especially susceptible to what they are exposed to online.

This population is exposed to images of what our society believes to be the perfect body type. When we look at a photo of someone we wished we looked like, our thoughts are more likely driven by emotions rather than logically thinking about everything that has gone into the final image we are presented with. Following an influencer on Instagram or YouTube gives us slightly more insight and understanding of what this person does to look a certain way. However, we have to keep in mind that we can only see the influencer's content to put out there. Influencers have the control of publicizing the good and hiding the bad.

Is it right to portray a certain standard of physique or strength, even if that standard is not naturally achievable by the person in the photos? What message does this send to impressionable youth?

Scrolling through images of so many people with the "perfect body" is dangerous for young people's self-image. Results published in the Health Communication journal found that people inundated with workout-related posts were more concerned with their weight and appearance than those who do not regularly see fitness posts on social media. Even when we scroll through these posts passively, we may not realize that we are internalizing what we see and its impact on our self-esteem. In addition, the lack of honest information regarding steroid use and a physically achievable physique can create a harmful understanding of health and fitness for young audiences.

The public is left to speculate since many influencers do not openly admit whether they do or do not use steroids. This results in a frenzy of comments on social media posts and online discussions about someone being "natty or not." To be "natty" is to be natural, in other words, to be a steroid and enhancement-free athlete. Most of the time, the influencer in question ignores addressing any comments about steroids. This leaves even more room for false assumptions.

Why would influencers choose not to address the comments? First, it creates more buzz around the individual. In this case, the saying "all publicity is good publicity" applies. More debate leads to more views per video or post, increases traffic to their profile or websites, and more followers.

What happens when someone does admit to using steroids to enhance their appearance? Ryan Casey, the 18-years-old athlete, previously sponsored by Gymshark, admitted to using SARMs in a Youtube video he posted in response to speculation videos made by other YouTubers. Casey said that he had taken two cycles of performance-enhancing drugs to gain size and strength.

PEDs are illegal and have limited research on the long-term side effects. For this reason, Gymshark, the famous UK-based fitness apparel company, dropped its affiliation with Casey, despite many other sponsored athletes having a similar physique to what Casey achieved unnaturally.

Despite it all, many followers supported Casey's honesty about his use of enhancement drugs. Telling the truth was a service to the fitness community and young followers that are easily influenced by the unattainable benchmarks set by those on social media.

Ultimately, the individual decides to use steroids and again decides whether or not to discuss it publicly. Should fitness influencers be held to a different standard than the average gym-goer regarding steroid use? Influencers should be aware of the impact their posts have on their audience. Social media has become an increasingly dangerous outlet for self-image and misinformation, fueled by dishonesty due to personal and financial gain.