New Delhi, May 16 : The increasing obsession with muscular physiques and rapid body transformation among urban youth in India is leading to the unsafe use of anabolic steroids, stimulant-heavy pre-workout powders and unregulated supplements, doctors have warned, citing rising cases of cardiac complications in young and seemingly healthy individuals.
Cardiologists say the trend, driven by social media fitness culture and aggressive online marketing of supplements, is contributing to a surge in heart-related risks such as arrhythmias, high blood pressure, heart failure and even sudden cardiac events.
Dr Rahul Chandola, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon and Chairman of the Institute of Heart and Lung Diseases, said hospitals are increasingly seeing young patients with palpitations, abnormal heart rhythms and early signs of structural heart damage linked to unsupervised supplement or steroid use.
“The danger is not exercise itself, but extreme workouts combined with stimulants, anabolic steroids, dehydration and unrealistic body-image goals,” he said.
Experts also warned that sudden cardiac collapses among young fitness enthusiasts and amateur bodybuilders are becoming a growing concern globally.
Dr Mayank Yadav, a cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon at AIIMS, said many young people wrongly assume that supplements sold online or promoted by influencers are safe.
“Many products are poorly regulated, and excessive or unsafe consumption can pose serious health risks,” he said, adding that India’s growing fitness culture is amplifying the trend.
Doctors noted that platforms like Instagram and YouTube are filled with transformation videos and supplement promotions that strongly influence youth behaviour.
Studies have shown that anabolic steroid use can reduce heart function, thicken heart walls and cause harmful cardiac remodelling, while many pre-workout supplements contain high levels of caffeine and stimulants that can dangerously increase heart rate and blood pressure.
Experts also highlighted the lack of proper cardiovascular screening before individuals begin intense fitness programmes, saying many underlying heart conditions remain undetected until a serious incident occurs.
Dr Chandola said routine health check-ups are often insufficient to detect hidden cardiac risks, as they typically include only basic blood tests and resting ECGs.
He stressed the need for advanced cardiovascular screening, especially for individuals engaging in high-intensity workouts or those with risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, smoking or family history of heart disease.
Doctors also cautioned against excessive reliance on stimulant-loaded pre-workout powders, warning that misuse or combining them with energy drinks can place extreme stress on the heart.
Experts advised young people to prioritise long-term health over rapid physical transformation and to seek medical guidance before using performance-enhancing substances.
