Analysis of anabolic androgenic steroid use among male and female body builders of Torbat Heydariyeh in 2018

Background & Aim: The abuse of anabolic steroid is known as a major problem in many sport fields especially body building. On the other hands, anabolic steroids misuse might lead to serious and sometimes life-threatening health problems such as kidney, liver damage and cardiovascular disease. This study was performed to survey the analysis of anabolic steroids consumption among male and female athletes in Torbat Heydariyeh clubs. Methods: The present research is a descriptive-cross sectional study. The statistical society included 274 men and women athletes. Instruments used in surveying include a self-made questionnaire. The statistical analysis of the study was done through SPSS 16 software and the collected data were analyzed through descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (chi-square) was also used for data analysis. Results: Data analysis showed the frequency of anabolic steroid abuse scored the highest among male subjects and the frequency of vitamin supplements was the most commonly consumed among female counterparts. Conclusion: The present study revealed high consumption of anabolic steroids among athletes in Torbat Heydariyeh city. On the other hands, lack of information and proper advice can lead to abuse of drugs. Thus, this is necessary to consider preventive and training programs for the athletes.