Abstract
BackgroundConsidering 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.MethodsA 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.ResultsA 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.ConclusionThe 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.
Highlights
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
The frequency of AAS users was 22.7 %, which is higher than what was reported in a similar study in Kuwait (11.8 %) [10] and what was previously reported amongst Iranian youth training as body builders (~13 %) [12], but less than previously reported for gym athletes (~38 %) [18], and similar to that reported amongst gym users in the United Arab Emirates (~22 %) [1]
The study concludes that the beliefs and attitudes regarding the effects of AAS on muscle and the harmfulness of AAS are significantly different between users and nonusers, this is expected and was already established in the previous studies
Summary
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. Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic derivatives of testosterone having pronounced anabolic properties and relatively weak androgenic properties [2]. They are used clinically for the treatment of conditions characterized by abnormally low production of testosterone, or muscle wasting [4]. Since the 1950s, AAS have been used by professional body-builders and increasingly by young adults to improve physical appearance [4, 20]. These nonmedical uses of AAS are associated with significant health. A recent internet-based survey has reported that the majority of users self-administer injectable
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