For Victoria Felkar, a front-line researcher in the fields of women’s health and training, and performance-enhancing drugs, the rise of anabolic steroid use in young women is a hugely troubling trend.

Driven by social media personalities, photo and video editing software, unrealistic body images and the easy of accessing these substances through online chemists, Felkar reveals how fitness influencers and celebrities, often showcasing idealised physiques, are contributing to the pressure young women feel to conform to these unattainable standards, leading many of them to performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in pursuit of rapid physical transformation.

Ina fascinating and wide-ranging conversation around women’s health, training, drugs, celebrity and body image, Felkar explains the mental and physical health dangers these women face, including severe hormonal imbalances, cardiovascular issues, and psychological effects, such as anxiety and depression. The health risks are not limited to immediate side effects but extend to long-term consequences that can profoundly impact overall well-being.

Education emerges as a critical solution to combat this dangerous trend, and Felkar emphasises the need for comprehensive awareness programmes that inform young women about the risks associated with PED use and promote healthier, sustainable fitness practices.

The interview also touches on drug use in elite sports, exploring how the rise of substances like SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators) and peptides blurs the line between legal and illegal performance-enhancing compounds. These emerging supplements, often marketed as safe alternatives to traditional steroids, pose their own set of risks and challenges, further complicating the landscape of PED use.

Felkar’s insights offer a detailed understanding of the socio-cultural and economic factors that contribute to the increasing prevalence of PED use among young women. The discussion is a call to action for better regulation, education, and support systems to protect this vulnerable demographic from the allure and dangers of performance-enhancing drugs.

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