Study of UK Men Links Gym Time, Steroid Use, and Disregard for Hair Loss Risks

Study of UK Men Links Gym Time, Steroid Use, and Disregard for Hair Loss Risks

21^st AUGUST 2025, LONDON, UK: A survey of male gym-goers in the UK by Oxford Online Pharmacy reveals 61% have used (or may consider using) anabolic steroids, and 42% of them would do so despite knowing the risk of permanent hair loss.

The figures are highest for those aged 25-34-years-old, with 75% of respondents admitting that they have taken or might consider taking steroids for muscle gain. This age group are also the largest consumers of social media content, spending the most time scrolling. Many with an interest in fitness and the gym are likely to see content by influencers promoting steroid use.

These findings are concerning on their own, but the data also suggests a knowledge gap exists around serious side effects including permanent hair loss. 33% of UK men are not aware of steroid-related hair loss, while 42% who are aware would take them despite understanding the risk.

There is evidence that social media influencers are fuelling a narrative that steroids have inconsequential side effects, with some recommending taking finasteride in conjunction with steroids to stop hair loss altogether. 

Anabolic steroids are considered a class C drug in the UK, which can only be issued by a pharmacist with a prescription. They can be injected into the muscle or taken orally as tablets. It is illegal to supply or sell them, including giving them to friends. If found guilty, someone could face an unlimited fine and even a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

Anabolic steroids used for performance and image enhancing (PIEDs) can cause hair loss by increasing the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body - the hormone the body naturally makes from testosterone. DHT can bind to receptors on the hair follicles, causing them to reduce in length and diameter, disrupting the normal growth cycle and resulting in hair thinning and eventual loss which can be permanent.

Kiran Jones, Clinical Pharmacist at Oxford Online Pharmacy is urging greater industry action to help tackle the rising number of men in the UK turning to the class C drug for muscle building and address the ignorance and knowledge gap around serious side effects, including permanent hair loss.

“This data displays not only indifference to the effects of anabolic steroid use, but an obvious education gap about the negative impact they can have. The data also shows a clear correlation between the time a man spends in a gym environment per week and the probability that they have or would consider taking the performance enhancing drug.”

71% of men surveyed who go to the gym daily confess to using anabolic steroids or admit they might do in future, compared with a quarter (50%) of men who go only once a week. This demographic is also the most likely to refute or be unsure about the negative impact steroids can have on hair and scalp health (46%), compared to 37% of men who go to a gym once a week.

Men were also asked if they would be willing to risk permanent hair loss if it meant achieving their ideal body shape or muscle mass. 54% of daily gym-goers said yes or maybe, compared with 31% of weekly gym-goers. The male UK average was 42%.

Kiran continued: “While anabolic steroid use may help men fast-track their fitness and performance in the gym in the short term, it could leave them with long-term side effects that could impact their self-confidence.

“There needs to be further education within gym environments, especially for young men, about the side effects of taking steroids including hair loss. For those unfortunate enough to experience this, there is no guarantee of reversing hair loss, as regrowth can be challenging once DHT triggers hair follicle shrinkage. 

“While minoxidil or finasteride are recommended as hair loss treatments, to slow down hair loss and promote regrowth, taking them in conjunction with one another can disrupt normal hormone balance, leading to low libido, erectile dysfunction, mood swings and even Gynecomastia.

“Steroid-use among recreational athletes is a persistent issue within UK gyms. It’s time industry, government, sport agencies and law enforcement worked more collaboratively to tackle the problem, minimise harm, and shatter the culture glamourising performance enhancers and the ‘ideal’ body shape.

“Prevention and education are key, but there are also tougher ways steroid use can be clamped down on, with our European counterparts in Belgium and Scandinavia enforcing anti-doping regimes in commercial gyms, as well as within the elite athlete community, as far back as 2003.”

Nick Richardson, fitness expert and natural bodybuilder also commented:

“From my experience working in gyms, steroid use is very common, particularly among regular gym-goers. Users could be competing in non-drug tested bodybuilding competitions, doing it for quicker gains for personal appearance, or for social media purposes to gain more followers or to sell online coaching programmes.

“On the gym floor and on social media, the side effects of steroid use aren’t spoken about enough. Either people aren't fully aware of the potential side effects, or they choose to be ignorant to them in the pursuit of a better body image.”

“There is a lot of information on social media about quantities of compounds to take, reasons to take them, when to take them and what to take for specific results, but there isn't enough information out there regarding side effects, especially hair loss.”