Research by our University academics in the Exercise, Sport & Rehabilitative Therapies team and funded by Forces in Mind Trust, found that body image and keeping up with the demands of active duty are the main reasons for using Performance and Image-Enhancing Drugs (PIEDs).
The research included a systematic review of international literature, and a qualitative study of UK veterans who were taking PIEDs. Serving personnel who use PIEDs are most likely to be young, male, non-commissioned Army personnel. The most common products include anabolic steroids, body building products and weight-loss supplements.
Despite awareness of risks to physical and mental health, and of health risks around product quality and method of intake, users often justified continued PIEDs-use on various grounds, even where some had experienced serious medical side effects. Notably, all study participants stated that they would rather not have started taking PIEDS but felt they would now struggle to stop.
Dr Ian Whyte, former Team Leader and Principal Lecturer in Sport and Exercise at the University of Sunderland, who worked alongside Professor Jonathan Ling on the research, said: “Many of the main findings were not a surprise in terms of the motivations for taking PIEDS. Getting bigger muscles, becoming stronger, and looking good were the main reasons that our respondents took PIEDS. However, the difference for our cohort is that for many, looking good and being stronger were related to their perceptions that they had to look ‘tough’ when in combat zones, be able to cope physically and mentally when there, and ‘hold their own’ in training.
“Like many people taking PIEDS, the internet is both their source of supply as well as a source of information, but this does not come without risk. Most of our ex-Services personnel had experienced some form of illness or negative health consequences due to unregulated products or unsubstantiated information. To exacerbate these problems, due to their experiences in the military, they noted that they were unlikely to seek medical help or advice unless ‘things got really bad’.”
