Health Project

• Health

Performance Enhancing Drugs

By Maria Overby

What are Performance Enhancing Drugs? (PEDs)

-"It is defined as any substance taken in non-pharmacologic doses specifically for purposes of improving sports performance" (Nationwidechildrens.org). 

PED use is illegal

1. True
2. False

Used To

- Boost athletic ability

- Build muscle

- Increase body mass

- Lose body fat

02:31

Are medical or muscle growth doses higher?

1. Medical
2. Muscle

Anabolic Steroids

-A group of synthetic drugs 

that mimics testosterone

Testosterone-The 

main hormone in men and 

is needed to maintain male

 characteristics 

(ex. deep voice, facial hair, and muscle growth)

9

Females have testosterone

1. True
2. False

Stimulants

Prescribed by doctors to people who have trouble focusing (ex. ADHD)

Increase alertness, improve endurance, and reduce fatigue

Growth Hormones

Commonly used to treat hormones or growth deficiency in children

Used to achieve a more muscular appearance

What is one negative side effect of PEDs?

Creatine

-Our bodies already contain creatine 

-Half comes from diet, 

your liver and kidneys produce the other half

-Supports energy to your muscles

-High doses can cause serious side effects

Blood Doping

-Used by injecting Erythropoietin (EPO) into the body

-Increases red blood cell mass allowing the body to transport more oxygen to muscles

-This increases stamina and performance

12

Signs that someone is taking PEDs

- Increased aggression

-Rapid weight gain (ex. 10 Ib/month or 40 Ib/ year

-Postule acne 

-Female (lower voice, facial hair, male body hair)

Lance Armstrong

Marion Jones

Before and after PED use

Student Athletes

-PEDs are especially dangerous in teens

-Between 1% and 12% of high school boys and 0.5% and 3% of high school girls report the use of anabolic steroids 

-The highest rates were found in male athletes competing in football, wrestling, and weightlifting

(National Library Of Medicine)

Male body dysmorphia

-Steroid use is often associated with a form of male body dysmorphia 

-Muscle dysmorphia disorder (MDD)

-Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

-Referred to as the reverse of anorexia-bigorexia 

- These users use steroids to get bigger and increase their confidence 

Addiction

-Dependence and fear they will not be able to function properly during the day

-Withdrawal symptoms (ex. fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, and steroid cravings)

Citations