Characteristics and behaviors of older male anabolic steroid users

Abstract

Objective: To compare and contrast the characteristics of 2 groups of men ≥40 years old: reported anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users and nonusers. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Thirty-eight online fitness, weight lifting, bodybuilding, and steroid Web sites. Participants: A total of 67 male AAS users and 76 male nonusers ≥40 years old. Main Outcomes Measured: Demographics, utilization of AAS and other performance-enhancing agents (PEAs), exercise patterns, history of illicit drugs and alcohol use, and psychiatric traits/diagnoses. Results: The majority of AAS users ≥40 years old were caucasian (92.5%), heterosexual (97.0%), and classified themselves as recreational exercisers (79.1%). AAS users took more PEAs (11.5 ± 5.6 vs 4.6 ± 2.7; P