Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Aug 22:10:33.
doi: 10.1186/s13011-015-0030-5.

Usage and perceptions of anabolic-androgenic steroids among male fitness centre attendees in Kuwait--a cross-sectional study

Ibrahim Alsaeed  1 , Jarrah R Alabkal  2
Affiliations

Usage and perceptions of anabolic-androgenic steroids among male fitness centre attendees in Kuwait--a cross-sectional study

Ibrahim Alsaeed et al. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. .

Abstract

Background: Considering the recent popularity of bodybuilding and the apparent spread of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use amongst bodybuilding enthusiasts in Kuwait, there is a relative lack of scientific investigation into the use, knowledge and attitudes towards AAS amongst the population at risk of abusing it. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the frequency, knowledge, attitudes and practice of AAS use amongst male fitness centre attendees in Kuwait.

Methods: A cross sectional survey utilizing a self-administered questionnaire was used. Information on demographics as well as knowledge and attitude about and towards the use of AAS was included in the questionnaire. Ten fitness centres in Kuwait were randomly selected and questionnaires were distributed to all individuals leaving each centre on randomly selected days and periods of time for each centre. Overall n = 400 questionnaires were distributed.

Results: A total of n = 194 questionnaires were returned completed (~49%). Of the responders, 22.7% used AAS. The 19-25 age group had the highest occurrence (46.8%) of first-time AAS use. In contrast with non-users, most (70.5%) of AAS users believed that having an optimally muscular body can only be achieved by using AAS, and a small minority (6.8%) believed that AAS usage would have significant harms to health. Only 18.2% of AAS users had appropriate knowledge regarding the side effects of AAS. Non-users were as much uninformed as AAS users regarding the side effects of AAS.

Conclusion: The usage of AAS is high amongst male gym users in Kuwait and is likely to present an additional burden to the health service. An effective initiative to minimize the burden of AAS abuse should focus on changing the attitudes towards AAS rather than spreading awareness of their side effects.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Distribution of participants based on history and intention of using Anabolic Androgenic Steroids
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Route of administration of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Al-falasi, O., Al-dahmani, K., Al-eisaei, K., Al-ameri, S., Al-maskari, F., Nagelkerke, N., & Schneider, J. (2008). Knowledge, attitude and practice of anabolic steroids use among gym users in Al-Ain District, United Arab Emirates, 75–81. http://benthamopen.com/ABSTRACT/TOSMJ-2-75.
    1. Bahrke MS, Yesalis CE, Brower KJ. Anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse and performance-enhancing drugs among adolescents. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 1998;7(4):821–38. - PubMed
    1. Baker JS, Graham MR, Davies B. Steroid and prescription medicine abuse in the health and fitness community: a regional study. Eur J Intern Med. 2006;17(7):479–84. doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2006.04.010. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Fitness, C. on S. M. and (1997). Adolescents and Anabolic Steroids: A Subject Review. Pediatrics, 99 (6), 904–908. doi:10.1542/peds.99.6.904. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/99/6/904.full. - PubMed
    1. Goldberg L, Bents R, Bosworth E, Trevisan L, Elliot DL. Anabolic steroid education and adolescents: do scare tactics work? Pediatrics. 1991;87:283–6. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources