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Hoseini R, Hoseini Z. Exploring the prevalence of anabolic steroid use among men and women resistance training practitioners after the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:798. [PMID: 38481173 PMCID: PMC10938795 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18292-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on individual health and fitness routines globally. Resistance training, in particular, has become increasingly popular among men and women looking to maintain or improve their physical fitness during the pandemic. However, using Anabolic Steroids (AS) for performance enhancement in resistance training has known adverse effects. Thus, this study aimed to explore the prevalence of AS use among men and women resistance training practitioners after the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 3,603 resistance training practitioners (1,855 men and 1,748 women) in various geographical locations impacted by COVID-19. The participants were asked to complete self-administered questionnaires, which included questions regarding demographic information, training habits, and current or prior usage of AS. The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software and the chi-square method, with a significance level of (P < 0.05). RESULTS A total of 3603 men and women resistance training practitioners completed the survey. In the study, 53.05% of men and 41.99% of women used anabolic and androgenic steroids. Of those men who used steroids, 29.47% used Testosterone, while 31.20% of women used Winstrol. Additionally, 50.30% of men used steroids via injection, while 49.05% of women used them orally. According to the study, 49.99% of the participants had 6 to 12 months of experience with resistance training, and 64.25% of them underwent three training sessions per week. The analysis using the χ2 test did not reveal any significant difference between men and women in terms of duration of bodybuilding, frequency per week, and engagement in other activities. CONCLUSION This study shows that a significant proportion of men and women resistance training practitioners used AS, particularly among young adults with limited training experience. Thus, there is a need for targeted education and awareness campaigns to address the hazards of AS use and promote healthy training habits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rastegar Hoseini
- Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Razi University, Kermanshah, P.O. Box. 6714414971, Iran.
| | - Zahra Hoseini
- Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Razi University, Kermanshah, P.O. Box. 6714414971, Iran
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Hattab S, Saleh B, Qasarweh L, Draidi M, Zyoud SH. Knowledge and attitudes toward the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids among physical education university students: a cross-sectional study from Palestine. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2146. [PMID: 38273101 PMCID: PMC10810783 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52787-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of androgenic-anabolic steroids (AASs) has increased in recent years, especially among athletes, due to their effect on body shape and performance. These agents could have serious side effects on this highly susceptible population, which tends to use these substances frequently to promote muscle growth and physical performance. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes toward the use of anabolic androgenic steroids among physical education university students in Palestine. A cross-sectional study of physical education students from November 2020 to January 2021 was conducted using an electronic questionnaire. The main outcome was to measure the level of knowledge and use of the AAS. A total of 380 students were included. The mean age of the students was 21 years (SD = 4.2), and the study participants were distributed almost equally according to sex. Approximately a quarter of the students were smokers. Eighty percent (80%) of the study participants were from the West Bank, while the remaining 20% were from Jerusalem and 48 territories. Furthermore, most of the students lived with their families; half lived in cities, approximately 152 (40%) lived in villages, and only 29 (8%) lived in camps. The average level of knowledge of the AAS was 2.95 out of 8 (37/100), with a median of three. Furthermore, only 36 (10%) of the participants had satisfactory knowledge, scoring 80% or more. Regarding the use of AAS, 11 (2.9%) participants, all males, confirmed that they were currently using AAS. Additionally, approximately 28 (7%) had previously used them, while 30 (8%) planned to try them in the future. Overall, 221 (58%) patients were confirmed to use vitamins and minerals. Our study showed that most of the participants had a substantial lack of information on the potential side effects of AAS, while the level of use was comparable with that of other populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhaib Hattab
- Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology Division, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
| | - Bashar Saleh
- Department of Physical Education, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Laith Qasarweh
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Mahmoud Draidi
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Sa'ed H Zyoud
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
- Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
- Clinical Research Center, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, 44839, Palestine
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Eltewacy NK, Nabil S, Sweedy R, Marzo RR, Hamza N. Knowledge, practice and attitude toward anabolic hormones and nutritional supplements among people practicing sports in the MENA region before and during COVID-19 lockdown. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1018757. [PMID: 36324469 PMCID: PMC9618939 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1018757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction During the COVID-19 lockdown, people's lifestyles have changed including their habits and physical activities. There has been an increase in anabolic hormones and nutritional supplement use among people who regularly do exercise in the MENA region. This study aims to assess knowledge, practice, and attitude toward the use of anabolic hormones and nutritional supplements among people who regularly exercise in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and to compare their exercise habits and hormones and supplements usage between before and during COVID-19 lockdown. Methods A self-administrated online Google form survey was carried out between February 2021 and April 2021. Five thousand eight hundred forty-five participants who regularly exercise and aged ≥18 years responded to the questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed through social media platforms and included five sections: demographic, training characters, knowledge, practice, and attitude. Results The participants mean age was 27.4 ± 8.6 years. Males represented 58.2 % of participants. 75.3% of the study participants had not used either hormones or supplements, and about 19% used supplements only. The mean percent score for knowledge, practice, and attitude were 39.3 ± 30.5, 1.1 ± 9.5, and 21.3 ± 23.8, respectively. Level of knowledge was higher among participants who worked in the medical field or as sports coaches. The practice was higher among male participants. The most commonly used anabolic hormones and nutritional supplements were steroids and proteins with bodybuilding being the most common purpose. Internet was the main source of information and pharmacy was the main source for procuring these substances. There was a significant decrease in proteins, carbohydrates, and sports drinks used during the COVID-19 lockdown compared to before the COVID-19 lockdown, while a statistically significant increase in vitamins used during the COVID-19 lockdown compared to before COVID-19 lockdown. Discussion In the MENA region, there has been an increase in the use of anabolic hormones and nutritional supplements. Most of the population has low knowledge of the harmful effect of uncontrolled, uninformed and unmonitored use of these substances Therefore, increasing the awareness level of participants and sports coaches should be a priority to limit the unsupervised use of hormones and supplements.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Soha Nabil
- Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt,*Correspondence: Soha Nabil
| | - Rahma Sweedy
- Medical Agency for Research and Statistics (MARS), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Roy Rillera Marzo
- Department of Community Medicine, International Medical School, Management and Science University, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia,Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nouran Hamza
- Medical Agency for Research and Statistics (MARS), Cairo, Egypt,Clinical Research Key (CRK-CRO), Nairobi, Kenya
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Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a Scoping Review of Extant Empirical Literature. Int J Ment Health Addict 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11469-019-00217-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe use of image- and performance-enhancing drugs particularly anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) is not a new phenomenon. AAS use is not limited to athletes, with mainstream populations using these drugs for aesthetic purposes. Prevalence has been predominantly in Western countries, with some recent studies indicating a rise in popularity in the Eastern Mediterranean region. A scoping review of extant empirical literature from the Eastern Mediterranean region described and mapped what is known about the extent of AAS in the region. Four themes emerged from the review: (1) profile of AAS users; (2) AAS within gymnasium practice; (3) AAS regimes of use; and (4) knowledge and understanding of the AAS concept and related adverse effects. The review highlights a relatively new phenomenon of AAS use in the Eastern Mediterranean. The review underscores the need to carry out further research, particularly qualitative and quantitative studies with both genders, and cognisant of the complexities of culture and religiosity.
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Saati Asr MH, Bashirian S, Heidari Moghadam R, Barati M, Moeini B. Personal and psychosocial factors associated with anabolic-androgenic steroid use among Iranian male bodybuilders. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2018.1436600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Hassan Saati Asr
- Department of Public Health, School of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Saeed Bashirian
- Health Education, Social Determinants of Health Research Center and Department of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Rashid Heidari Moghadam
- Exercise Physiology, Research Center for Health Sciences and Department of Ergonomics, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Majid Barati
- Health Education and Promotion, Research Center for Behavioral Disorders and Substances Abuse and Department of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Babak Moeini
- Health Education, Social Determinants of Health Research Center and Department of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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Althobiti SD, Alqurashi NM, Alotaibi AS, Alharthi TF, Alswat KA. Prevalence, Attitude, Knowledge, and Practice of Anabolic Androgenic Steroid (AAS) Use Among Gym Participants. Mater Sociomed 2018; 30:49-52. [PMID: 29670477 PMCID: PMC5857039 DOI: 10.5455/msm.2018.30.49-52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Anabolic steroids (AS) are synthetic testosterone derivatives that last longer than physiological androgens in the body. Anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse is spreading among athletes. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of gym participants in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among gym users from February 2017 to May 2017. The questionnaire included information on demographics related to the use of AAS and lifestyle habits. Any willing male gym participant could be included. Results: A total of 4860 male gym participants with a mean age of 28.6 ± 6.2 years were included. A majority were single, with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Moreover, 9.8% of the participants used AAS, of which 76.7% reported improved fitness. Friends were the main source of AAS-related information, but only 38.0% of AAS users sought medical consults. The oral route was most common, and testosterone enanthate was the AAS most used. Conclusion: Also, 9.8% of gym participants used AAS and were more likely to be involved in risky habits, such as smoking and growth hormone abuse. They were less aware of potential complications of AAS, with gym trainers being the predominant source of AAS substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami D Althobiti
- Medical Intern, Taif University School of Medicine, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Turki F Alharthi
- Medical Intern, Taif University School of Medicine, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khaled A Alswat
- Internal Medicine, Diabetes, and Endocrinology Certified Clinical Densitometrist. Taif University School of Medicine, Taif, Saudi Arabia
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Al Bishi KA, Afify A. Prevalence and awareness of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) among gymnasts in the western province of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electron Physician 2017; 9:6050-6057. [PMID: 29560159 PMCID: PMC5843433 DOI: 10.19082/6050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) are synthetic derivatives of the male sex hormone (testosterone) that are increasingly used by athletes as performance enhancing drugs to increase muscle mass and strength. Multiple health adverse effects may be caused by its non-medical use. Several international and regional studies showed the high prevalence of AAS usage and low level of awareness of it among different populations. Objective To estimate the prevalence of AAS and to determine the level of awareness toward it among gymnasts in the western province of Riyadh. Methods This cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire distributed on 400 male gymnasts from 10 different fitness centers which have been chosen randomly from 23 centers in the western province of Riyadh city (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) during 2016. Data analysis was performed by SPSS version 21, using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test. Results Among the 400 gymnasts who participated in the survey, a total of n=363 questionnaires were received completed. Of the responders, (n=89) were AAS users with a percentage 24.50%. The testosterone was the most commonly used type followed by Methandrostenolone then Stanozolol. The major sources for obtaining AAS were online shopping (45%) and gym-coach (22.5%). Regarding awareness, 74% of AAS users had an inadequate perception about AAS concept versus 55% of non-users with no significant difference (p=0.076). In addition, 82% of AAS users and 83% of non-users had inadequate knowledge of AAS adverse effects with no significant difference between the two categories (p=0.087). Conclusion The usage of AAS is high amongst gymnasts in the western province of Riyadh city considering they are prohibited. The level of awareness toward AAS is low among most gymnasts. We recommend for educational programs to be established in order to increase public awareness, in addition to a tightening of control by the responsible authorities over the sources of AAS procurement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Abdullah Al Bishi
- M.B.B.S, Resident in Saudi Board of Family Medicine, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ayman Afify
- Consultant Family Medicine and EBM, MRCGP. Educ. Certify, Dundee University, United Kingdom
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Lukovic JA, Miletic V, Pekmezovic T, Trajkovic G, Ratkovic N, Aleksic D, Grgurevic A. Self-medication practices and risk factors for self-medication among medical students in Belgrade, Serbia. PLoS One 2014; 9:e114644. [PMID: 25503967 PMCID: PMC4263675 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2014] [Accepted: 11/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Self-medication among future health care professionals can represent a serious threat to professionalism in medicine and it has potential to put at risk public trust into this profession. The aim of this research was to investigate prevalence and risk factors for self-medication among population of medical students, because it was previously shown that their attitudes towards pharmacotherapy could affect the way they could prescribe medication in the future. Material and Methods Research was performed as a cross-sectional study and it included 1296 (84.1%) 1st, 3rd and 6th year students of School of Medicine, University of Belgrade. Students filled out a demographic and self-medication questionnaire created for the purpose of this research and the Physical Health Questionnaire – 9 (PHQ-9). Questions about self-medication were related to the period of the previous year. Results Self-medication was reported by 79.9% students. The most frequently self-prescribed medications were analgesics (55.4%). Independent risk factors for self-medication were possession of home-pharmacies (OR = 5.3, CI 95% 3.89–7.23), lower level of father's education (OR = 1.6, CI 95% 1.18–2.25), consumption of alcoholic beverages (OR = 1.5, CI 95% 1.13–2.08), less than 1 hour spent in physical activity per week (OR = 1.4, CI 95% 1.00–2.02), female gender (OR = 1.4, CI 95% 1.02–1.89), older age (OR = 1.1, CI 95% 1.07–1.21) and higher PHQ-9 score (OR = 1.09, CI 95% 1.05–1.12). Conclusions Self-medication is an important issue among population of medical students. Prevalence of self-medication could be controlled through regulatory authorities and further education.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tatjana Pekmezovic
- Institute of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Goran Trajkovic
- Institute of Medical Statistics and Informatics, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | | | - Anita Grgurevic
- Institute of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- * E-mail:
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