Why are British men addicted to steroids?

Here’s a wild stat for you...

Now there’s an estimated 1 million, mostly male, steroid users in the UK. And with how easy it is to buy steroids in most local gyms and online, and increasingly unrealistic body standards for them to live up to, that number could only get bigger.

But why is that a problem? Don’t steroids just make you bigger and stronger, and are taken (illegally) by most top athletes?

Well not so fast there Arnie, because experts from politics, science and public health all agree that it could end up being a huge problem long term for the country's mental and physical health.

A huge number of studies have shown that long term steroid use increases the likelihood of physical problems like strokes, heart attacks and infertility as well as mental health issues like depression, mood swings and psychosis.

And all of these issues are being compounded by an increase in body dysmorphia in men. A recent study by the Mental Health Foundation* showed that 48% of men between 16-40 have struggled with their body image, and more than one in ten of them have experienced suicidal thoughts and feelings about it too.

What’s causing this increase in body dysmorphia? It’s become a cliche at this point, but it’s impossible to look past social media, with the proliferation of fitness influencers, bodybuilding bros, and CGI six packed superheroes, all swiping across your screens as soon as you pick up a phone.

Unrealistic body standards are something that women have had to deal with since time immemorial, and it seems now the health and beauty industries are figuring out ways of targeting men with the same vigour. And men are reacting to the pressures in extreme and potentially dangerous ways, like steroids, eating disorders, and obsessively working out.

Watch our documentary on steroids and body dysmorphia, that’s now live on our YouTube channel, to find out more.