'Worrying' increase in gym users abusing steroids to improve body image, warn council-run needle exchanges

'Emerging epidemic' of image-enhancing drug use, says Local Government Association

Gym users are increasingly turning to steroids, according to the Local Governm (iStock)

A growing number of gym users are abusing anabolic steroids as they look to improve their body image over summer, public health chiefs have warned.

More people are also turning to illegal synthetic hormones to boost their tans ahead of their holidays, said the Local Government Association (LGA), which described the trend as an “emerging epidemic”.

Council-run needle exchanges in England and Wales have reported a surge in contact with users of image- and performance-enhancing drugs (IPEDs).

The “worrying” increase has led to diseases often associated with older people, including life-threatening cardiovascular and liver disease, appearing more often among the young, according to the LGA. Users who share needles are also at risk of HIV, hepatitis B and C.

The LGA linked the rise in use of IPEDs to the “Love Island effect”. Mental health charities have previously criticised the ITV series for its lack of body diversity and warned reality television can harm viewers self-esteem.

Sheffield City Council said 40 per cent of people who hand needles in at its exchanges were using IPEDs. The city’s Juice Clinic, a service for users of steroids and image-enhancing drugs, is attended by 20 people on average per weekly session.

In Wigan, between 40 and 60 per cent of needle exchange users are believed to take IPEDs, with demand rising in the summer. The council is planning to launch a campaign rising awareness of the dangerous of the drugs, reaching out to local boxing and sports gyms, as well as establishing a specific clinic.

Ian Hudspeth, chair of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said: “With summer now in full swing and people getting ready for their holidays, we need to remind people of the risks when it comes to taking illegal drugs or other illicit substances to try and improve their appearance.

“Councils are concerned that they are seeing a worrying rise in their areas of people using the likes of steroids or injecting melanotan tanning agent, which is linked to potentially life-threatening conditions such as cardiovascular and liver disease, as well as other physical and psychological effects.”