Social Media, Body Image and Resistance Training: Creating the Perfect 'Me' with Dietary Supplements, Anabolic Steroids and SARM's

Luuk Hilkens, Maarten Cruyff, Liesbeth Woertman, Jeroen Benjamins, Catharine Evers, Luuk Hilkens, Maarten Cruyff, Liesbeth Woertman, Jeroen Benjamins, Catharine Evers

Abstract

Background: Few studies have assessed the use of dietary supplements, anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) and selective androgen receptor modulators (SARM) in male gym users. The comparison of physical appearance with others on social media and the exposure to fitness-related content on social media (i.e., image-centric social media use) may have a profound role in using these compounds due to its role in creating negative body images in male gym users.

Objective: Provide contemporary data on the use of dietary supplements, AAS and SARM among young male gym users, and test the hypothesis that social media is associated with the use of dietary supplements, AAS and SARM, as a result of a negative body image.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, conducted in the Netherlands, male gym users (N = 2269; 24 ± 6 years) completed an online questionnaire including self-reported measures regarding resistance training participation, image-centric social media use, dietary supplement intake, and body image. The prevalence of AAS and SARM use was assessed with randomized response, a technique to ask sensitive questions indirectly.

Results: Of all participants, 83% used ergogenic dietary supplements (mainly protein and creatine), and an estimated 9 versus 2.7% had ever used AAS versus SARM. Image-centric social media use was positively associated with the use of dietary supplements (r = .26; p < 0.01) and AAS (p < 0.05), but not SARM. Image-centric social media use was associated with a more dissatisfied body image (r = .34; p < 0.01). Body image did not mediate the relationship between image-centric social media use and the use of doping compounds.

Conclusions: The use of dietary supplements in young male gym users is exorbitant, with the use of AAS and SARM being substantial. Image-centric social media use is positively associated with the use of dietary supplements and AAS.

Keywords: Androgenic–anabolic steroids; Body image; Dietary supplements; Gym users; Image-centric social media use; Resistance training; SARM’s; Selective androgen receptor modulators; Social media.

Conflict of interest statement

Luuk Hilkens, Maarten Cruyff, Liesbeth Woertman, Jeroen Benjamins and Catharine Evers declare no conflicts of interest that might be relevant to the contents of this manuscript.

© 2021. The Author(s).

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Histogram of standardized scores on body image (BI) as measured in young male gym users with the Revised Male Body Attitudes Scale (MBAS-R). Scores of − 1 representing 1 SD below the mean and + 1 representing 1 SD above the mean
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Prevalence (%) of dietary supplement use in young male gym users in the Netherlands. BCAA: branch-chained amino acids; NaHCO3: sodium bicarbonate; HMB: beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
a–d Parameter estimates (and standard errors) of the mediation model with dietary supplement use (SUPP: a), current anabolic androgenic steroid use (AAScurrent: b), lifetime anabolic androgenic steroid use (AASlifetime: c), and lifetime selective androgen receptor modulator use (SARM: d). ISMU: image-centric social media use. Dashed lines indicate parameter estimates that come from one single model with 2 predictors. Significance codes: *p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001

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