Finalidades de uso e conhecimento gerais sobre os riscos da utilização de esteroides anabolizantes em uma academia de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais

Abstract

This study seeks to gather information about the relative number of bodybuilding practitioners who are, or were, users of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), as well as the reasons that influenced their use, how users make this use and how they acquire such products, as well as knowledge about the damage to health in a bodybuilding gym in the city of Uberlândia, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A questionnaire was created on Google Forms, 7 questions on the subject that were answered anonymously by 61 people. Through it was reported an incidence of use of HAE was 24.6%, in which 13.1% were using HAE at the time of the survey (53.2% of users) and 11.5% (46.8%) had already used them, and it was reported that 53.3% of these individuals acquired the products on the black market. In addition, of the non-users, 23% showed interest in using such substances (11 volunteers). The main motivations of the participants (61) to use the HAEs would be to gain muscle mass in an accelerated manner and improve training performance. About the knowledge about health risks, 50.8% for hepatotoxicity, 68.9% for cardiovascular changes, 54.1% for changes in lipid profile, and 68.9% had knowledge about infertility in men. In addition, 55.7% knew about clitoral enlargement in women and 13.1% did not know about any of the mentioned risks. This study shows that there is a need to adopt preventive and educational actions regarding the use of HAE for this population.