Over a very long period of time, humans have relied on various kinds of performance-

enhancing substances. It has been suggested, for example, that the ancient
Greeks turned to potions to improve performance.

Today, these substances range from “soft” or legal substances such as energy drinks to
“hard” substances such as steroids and amphetamines, and other more “natural”
methods, including blood doping to increase the number of rich red blood cells in the
bloodstream.

In the exercise or athletic world, anabolic-androgenic steroids or anabolic steroids are a

very popular performance-enhancing substance. But over the past 40 years they have
increasingly been used for aesthetic or “beauty” reasons. This is what we found in a
recent study, published in Annals of Epidemiology, that suggested that 3.3% of the
world’s population have used anabolic steroids at least once, most of whom were male
(around 6.4% of males and 1.6% of females).

Our finding suggests that use of anabolic steroids is now a serious global public health problem.
Not confined to athletes, the spread of their use into the general population means millions of
individuals across the world, many of whom have no athletic ambitions, are using them to
increase and improve their physical strength and appearance.

The history of anabolic steroids can be traced back to as early as 1930's, before the term steroid was even
used. In the 1930's, a team of scientists was able to create a synthetic form of testosterone (a male hormone)
to help treat men who were unable to produce enough of the hormone for normal growth, development, and
sexual functioning. Later, during World War II it was found that this artificial form of testosterone could be used
to help malnourished soldiers gain weight and improve performance. After the war, athletes began to use
steroids to enhance their performance in competitions.

Anabolic steroids were originally created to help treat men who were unable to produce enough of the hormone
for normal growth, development, and sexual functioning.

The illicit use of anabolic steroids among the gym population continues to rise, along with the number of
steroid using clients attending harm reduction services in the UK. This presents serious challenges to
public health.

Androgenic-anabolic steroid use among gym attendees is one of the less-talked about public

health issues in the Philippines specifically in Zamboanga City. With the existence of numerous

fitness gyms in the city, the data that will be gathered from the study may give gym attendees

new insights regarding androgenic-anabolic steroid use. It may be essential in increasing their
knowledge concerning this issue thus allowing them to make informed choices and action before

using and when using the said drug. Also, given the threats and risks that the practices and abuse

of Androgenic-anabolic steroid use may pose, this study may be instrumental for different

agencies, sectors and legislative bodies in formulating programs and strategies to address the

issues that AAS use brings. It may also be a fundamental in the passing of laws or ordinances

which will regulate the use as well as the practices relating to this drug.

Notwithstanding the foregoing statement, AAS, though widely studied on the global arena, has

not been given ample attention on Philippine setting. As of this writing, no known research

focusing on this topic had been published in the country. Further, no laws or even administrative

circulars relating to the regulation of AAS have been passed.

The illicit use of androgenic anabolic steroids among the population has continued to rise.

What was originally created to treat health-related problems has now become a global health

dilemma and has posed serious threats to people’s well-being, because of the population’s

misuse and abuse of the said substance. The same is likewise true in the City of Zamboanga,

Philippines.