“Natty or not?” is the question that lurks in the comments of every fitness influencer’s videos. Even the most famous fitness icons who have been living on the internet for years can’t escape the intense scrutiny that pervades the fitness sphere as men scramble over each other to find out who’s artificial and enhanced, and who’s actually achieved their physique through sheer discipline. The question reflects both underlying insecurities and impossible physique standards, two phenomena that result from the fitness influencer circle’s own toxicity.
Being “natty” or natural means achieving a physique and strength without using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) like anabolic steroids and human growth hormones (HGHs). That describes most of us: ordinary people who work out simply to maintain a healthy lifestyle with a realistic physique goal in the back of our minds. On the other hand, those who are not “natty” are the people who have used some sort of substance to boost muscle growth or performance beyond what’s naturally attainable. Traditionally, these would have been hardcore bodybuilders who sought to push beyond the physical limits of the human body for the sake of competition (and maybe for self-satisfaction or to garner attention online?).
Today, however, we’re starting to see a new phenomenon: a surge in the use of anabolic steroids, particularly amongst male fitness enthusiasts. Especially after the COVID-19 disruption, when many people were forced to slow down their training routines, weightlifters have been experimenting with ways to quickly strengthen their performance. It’s become a norm to see the most mundane white-collar office workers joining the popular wave of weightlifters who use steroids. Unlike the bodybuilders who had once been the main demographic of steroid-users, these new participants are often not competing in any way, so there’s no practical reason why they need to be injecting these synthetics into their bodies. But if most steroid users aren’t bodybuilders, then why are steroids becoming so prevalent in the first place?
It’s not necessity but desire that drives all of these fitness aficionados to invest in steroids. As powerlifting and bodybuilding have entered the mainstream of the Internet, more and more creators are tailoring their content to ride the wave of new fitness trends. Thus, when viewers’ Instagram and TikTok feeds are filled with videos of fitness icons posing their post-workout pump under high-contrast lighting, their perception of realistic physique standards becomes distorted. These heavily curated videos make it seem like every weightlifter has the same sculpted, tanned body—the one that everyone else is dying to achieve.
It’s like looking at the tip of an iceberg. On the surface, we only see those five or ten big influencers, concealing the majority of weightlifters who represent more realistic body standards. I’m sure you’ve heard of big names like David Laid, Sam Sulek, and Chris Bumstead, who have become the hallmark of the “gymbro” and, in a way, masculinity itself. Everyone has. They’re shredded muscles dominate the Internet, setting the bar high for the fitness sphere.
Men of all ages seek to attain those same physiques, but many of them don’t understand the amount of sheer dedication and time that have been spent on those bodies. What they see in those 10-second TikTok videos reflects years, even decades, of discipline, consistent habits, and strict diets, which can’t be replicated in a month. However, many people become impatient when they don’t see immediate results.
That’s when steroids enter the story. To these young men who are trying to exceed their body’s natural limits, steroids are like the magical quick-fixes to their problems. Testosterone and trenbolone (commonly known as “tren”) suddenly become the gymbros’ lifelines, indispensable steps in their routines that provide a rapid boost to their athletic performance. Steroids are tempting for this very reason: they’re so accessible and seemingly simple to use, but at the same time, they promise dramatic transformations. Especially when paired with the fading cultural taboos over drug use, they seem like the perfect remedy for insecurity and impatience.
So what is there not to love about steroids? I mean, they’re such convenient injectables, and they grant desired results, right? Yes, but also no. There are so many complications involved with steroids that are often overlooked in the industry. Gymbros who encourage each other to “hop on gear” (the slangy way to refer to using PEDs) usually don’t fully comprehend the risks that they’re signing up for when they make that first injection. Even if they have some vague understanding of drug use and side effects, they often think (or convince themselves) that the benefits outweigh the health risks.
The results they see in the mirror will satisfy them in the short term, but the sacrifice might not be worth it in the long term when they start experiencing strokes and weakened heart muscles in a couple of decades. Those are just two of an extensive list of health issues correlated to anabolic-androgenic steroid use, which consists of gynecomastia (development of breasts), testicular atrophy, erectile dysfunction, permanent infertility, blood clots, and liver damage. Along with the physical risks, many people also experience depression and aggression (commonly known as “roid rage”).
It’s not fun, but the thing is…it’s completely preventable. Rather than encouraging young men to jeopardize their future health, we should start shifting our perspectives on body standards and confidence. I’m sure that would make a real difference for the 96% of men who responded that they were unhappy with their bodies on Medichecks’ online questionnaire. All men, even the other 4%, are victims of our unfortunate reality, the one where people hold up pictures of Sam Sulek and say, “This is what you should look like.” Whether they realize it or not, this comparison culture has distorted their views on body image and physical health, leaving them unable to ever achieve a true sense of fulfillment. Their end goal of the “perfect body” will never exist. It’s a moving target that will continue to shift with every new post or trend.
With our current mindset, no one will ever be content: natty weightlifters will forever feel inadequate when they see enhanced physiques plastered all over social media, while non-natty weightlifters might forever feel a sense of incompetence when they realize that their strength and size come from something other than their own hard work.
As we watch the fitness sphere slowly bite in on itself, we should realize that it’s time to give more recognition to male body dysmorphia. It’s a topic that’s often ignored for men for reasons of masculinity and societal expectation, but it’s nevertheless a very real and pressing issue. Men can feel insecure, too, and it’s been clearly expressed through the growing steroids epidemic we’re seeing today. It’s a silent call for help, and it’s time we respond by encouraging a culture that values authenticity and sustainable fitness over comparison.
Sources:
BBC. “Why is steroid use rising among male bodybuilders?” BBC, 10 April 2022, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-60765050. Accessed 6 November 2025.
Buranyi, Stephen. “‘Natty or not?’: how steroids got big | Health.” The Guardian, 6 June 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jun/06/how-steroids-got-big-bodybuilding-influencers. Accessed 6 November 2025.
Hoseini, Rastegar, and Zahra Hoseini. “Exploring the prevalence of anabolic steroid use among men and women resistance training practitioners after the COVID-19 pandemic.” Exploring the prevalence of anabolic steroid use among men and women resistance training practitioners after the COVID-19 pandemic, 13 March 2024, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10938795/. Accessed 6 November 2025.
Kanayama, Gen, et al. “Long-Term Psychiatric and Medical Consequences of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Abuse: A Looming Public Health Concern?” PubMed Central, 2009, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2646607/. Accessed 6 November 2025.
